Press Release - The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Lawyers, Advocates, and Senator Coons Call on Senate to Confirm More Judicial Nominees
Press Conference Call MP3 Available for Download
For Immediate Release
Contact: Shin Inouye, 202.869.0398, inouye@archives.civilrights.org
March 15, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC -- On the day after Senate leaders reached a deal to confirm 14 judicial nominees that have been languishing due to unprecedented obstruction, Senator Chris Coons, D. Del.,, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, civil rights advocate Nancy Zirkin, and prominent attorneys from Arizona, Ohio and South Carolina held a telephonic press conference calling for the Senate to continue addressing the judicial vacancy crisis.
Click here to download an MP3 of this call.
As the federal judiciary reels from more than 80 judicial vacancies, nominees to the federal courts during President Obama’s term have had to wait on average four times as long for a Senate vote as did President Bush’s nominees at this point in his presidency. Confirming 14 of his nominees over the next several weeks is a step forward, but more work remains to be done, especially in states like Arizona, Ohio, South Carolina, and others that have existing judicial vacancies, including some that have been designated as “judicial emergencies.”
On today’s call, presenters provided their perspectives:
Senator Chris Coons, D. Del., Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee
“We need to push against the false impression that the judiciary is a political branch of government. It’s no small matter when talented jurists and lawyers want to serve their country and must wait several months just to receive a vote. It makes no sense.”
Nancy Zirkin, Executive Vice President of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
“Obstruction of judicial nominees by the Republican leadership has become a way of life in the Senate with nominees enduring endless anonymous holds and filibuster threats. Yesterday’s deal was a victory for regular order. While 14 judicial nominees will be confirmed in the next six weeks, there are still more than 20 waiting in committee or on the floor to be approved. These nominees deserve prompt up or down votes without any more procedural shenanigans.”
Gregory J. Kuykendall, Kuykendall & Associates, Tucson, Arizona, responded to the continued obstruction of an Arizona district court nominee.
“Refusing to allow the nomination of Rosemary Marquez to move forward is a slap in the face to Arizonans of all stripes. The American Bar Association recognizes Ms. Marquez as unanimously qualified, yet the Republican senators from Arizona have intentionally delayed her nomination and made the judicial emergency in Arizona much worse for no reason other than base political motives. Give her a hearing and let the committee vote on her.”
Michael Meuti, Baker & Hostetler, American Constitutional Society Northeast Ohio Lawyer Chapter leader
“Understaffed courts struggle to provide efficient and effective justice. When judicial vacancies increase, so do the workloads of each sitting judge. In turn, both individuals and businesses must wait longer for their cases to be resolved and must endure the uncertainties and costs of litigation for a greater period of time. President Obama’s nominees have waited four times longer than his predecessor’s. It is time for the Senate to abandon its obstructionist agenda, which can serve only to make justice harder to obtain for everyday Americans and American companies. ”
Armand Derfner, Partner, Derfner, Altman & Wilborn, Charleston, S.C.
"These nominees are being obstructed for no good reason. They’re suitable, qualified, and many have bipartisan support. The Senate should stop delaying votes to fill these vacancies.”
