Washington, DC – On news that the U.S. Senate confirmed Patricia A. Millett – on a virtual party-line vote of 56-38 – to fill a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that has been vacant since  the elevation of  John G. Roberts to Chief Justice, Constitutional Accountability Center Vice President Judith E. Schaeffer issued the following reaction: 

“We heartily congratulate Pattie Millett on her long-awaited and well-deserved confirmation today. After months of needless delay by Senate Republicans, this overwhelmingly qualified and totally uncontroversial nominee is headed for service on the D.C. Circuit. Her sterling credentials should help provide much-needed balance to a bench that has produced some truly radical decisions in recent years.

“It is frustrating, however, to watch conservative Senators like John McCain, who only recently condemned the ‘wacko-birds’ in his party, join in opposition to Millett’s confirmation. The filibuster of Millett, a pre-eminent Supreme Court advocate and a military spouse who has the support of many prominent conservatives — and the obstruction of other highly-qualified nominees — required the majority to deploy the ‘nuclear option’ to finally get today’s yes-or-no vote on Millett’s nomination.   To have so few Republican Senators vote to confirm this outstanding nominee is a deep disappointment on an otherwise welcome occasion, and underscores just how far the Senate has descended into rank partisanship.”

#

Resources:

* CAC Letter to Senate in Support of Patricia Millett, October 29, 2013.

* CAC Reaction To Senate GOP Filibuster Of Patricia Millett To D.C. Circuit, October 31, 2013.

* “Give Patricia Millett the Pay Cut She Deserves,” Doug Kendall, October 31, 2013.

*  “It’s Not Packing, Just Filling the D.C. Bench,” Judith E. Schaeffer, May 23, 2013.

#

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.

###