Washington, DC –  On news that the nomination of Berkeley Law Professor Goodwin Liu to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit was favorably reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee today on a party line vote, Constitutional Accountability Center Vice President Judith E. Schaeffer released the following statement:

“Let’s be clear: While the outcome of today’s vote was expected, it was also entirely duplicative. Last year, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted favorably on the Liu nomination twice, the first time in May 2010, only to see the nomination languish as part of an unprecedented effort by Senate Republicans to slow the confirmation process to almost a complete standstill.   Professor Liu is a supremely qualified candidate, nominated to a judicial emergency seat on the busiest appeals court in the country.  The inability of the Senate to even hold a vote on nominees such as Professor Liu underscores how Washington’s partisan dysfunction is damaging our country and delaying and denying a day in court to the thousands of Americans who rely on federal courts as their last, best hope for securing justice under law. 

The Senate must fulfill its constitutional duty to get our courts running at full capacity.  The Senate owes it to all Americans in the Ninth Circuit, at long last, to give Goodwin Liu a vote on the Senate floor.  And when that vote takes place, we strongly urge that Professor Liu be confirmed. ”

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Resources:

Letter from Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Alex Kozinski  and 19 colleagues, telling the Senate of the “desperate need for judges” on the courts of that Circuit and urging that vacancies be filled:http://legaltimes.typepad.com/files/111510-letter-from-9th-circuit.pdf

“‘Judicial Emergency’ Seat on Ninth Circuit Still Vacant While Goodwin Liu Marks One Year Anniversary as Nominee to Fill It,” CAC Vice President Judith Schaeffer: http://theusconstitution.org/text-history/2805

CAC’s original letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee supporting Goodwin Liu’s nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:http://theusconstitution.org/sites/default/files/briefs/CAC%20Ltr%20in%20support%20of%20Liu%20.pdf

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, List of Judicial Emergencies (Prof. Liu has been nominated to the “New Position” in the Ninth Circuit):http://www.uscourts.gov/JudgesAndJudgeships/JudicialVacancies/JudicialEmergencies.aspx

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Constitutional Accountability Center (www.theusconstitution.org) is a think tank, public interest law firm, and action center dedicated to fulfilling the progressive promise of the Constitution’s text and history.

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