The Supreme Court vacancy has drawn much attention to the Senate’s failure to do its job, but federal judicial vacancies extend beyond the nation’s highest court. Since Republicans took control of the Senate in 2015, vacancies on the lower courts have skyrocketed. While President Obama has nominated qualified judges from diverse backgrounds, his efforts have been stymied by an obstructive Senate majority. Join the Spring 2016 interns at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights for a panel discussion about the importance of filling district and circuit vacancies.

Moderator:

• Anisha Singh, Campaign Manager, Legal Progress, Center for American Progress

Panelists:

• Kyle Barry, Director of Justice Programs Alliance for Justice
• Judith E. Schaeffer, Vice President, Constitutional Accountability Center
• John Paul Schnapper-Casteras, Special Counsel for Appellate and Supreme Court Advocacy, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.
• Lena Zwarensteyn, Director of Strategic Engagement, American Constitution Society for Law and Policy