judicial nominations

Tell the Senate: We've Had Enough Delay. Stop Republican Obstruction.

We've had enough delay and procedural foot dragging. It's time to stop Republican obstruction of judicial nominees.

Senate Confirms Ed Chen: Republicans Forego Obstruction

The Senate today confirmed Ed Chen as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Despite attacks by some GOP leaders, Chen was confirmed by a vote of 56 to 42 and did not face a filibuster.

Marge Baker of People For the American Way issued the following statement:

“Ed Chen is exceedingly well qualified for this seat. Despite the repeated delays he was forced to endure, Americans should be glad that the Senate finally confirmed his nomination.

PFAW Edit Memo: The Lesson From One Year of Health Care Reform—Pay Attention to the Courts

When health care reform legislation was signed one year ago, the sustained attack against health care reform didn’t stop when the bill was signed. Almost immediately, the opponents of the bill opened a new attack on the legislation in a different venue: the federal courts.

PFAW Edit Memo: Progress on Judicial Confirmations (But Not Enough)

From: Marge Baker, People For the American Way
To: Interested Parties
Date: March 8, 2011
Re: Progress on Judicial Confirmations (But Not Enough)

Organizations Call on Senate Leaders to Keep Confirmations Moving

In a letter sent today, a wide array of organizations called on Senate leaders to ensure that President Obama’s judicial nominees receive timely votes during the 112th Congress.

Senate Confirms Three Judicial Nominees

The Senate today confirmed three of President Obama’s judicial nominees as the result of an agreement between Senate Democrats and Republicans.

Ongoing Coverage on PFAW's Blog

Check out PFAW's ongoing coverage of Judicial Nominations

Editorial Memorandum: Judicial Nominees and the State of the Union

To: Interested Parties
From: Marge Baker, People For the American Way
Re: Judicial Nominees and the State of the Union
Date: January 25, 2011

While it’s not clear exactly which Supreme Court Justices will attend President Obama’s State of the Union address tonight, it is clear that at least some of the Court’s conservative members agree with the President on one pressing issue: the need to hasten the confirmation of judges to the federal bench.

President Obama Sends Judicial Nominations Back to the Senate

President Obama today renominated 42 judicial nominees whose confirmations were blocked by Senate Republicans last year.

GOP Senators Target Judicial Nominees of Color

To: Interested Parties
From: Marge Baker, People For the American Way
Re: GOP Senators Target Judicial Nominees of Color
Date: December 22, 2010

Republicans Stymie Progress on Judicial Nominations

According to media reports, Senate Republicans have agreed to confirm a total of 19 of the 38 judicial nominations pending on the Senate’s calendar at the beginning of the lame duck session in exchange for a commitment that Senate Democrats refrain from holding votes on four others.

Holding Judges Hostage

As the end of the 111th Congress approaches, 38 judicial nominees approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee are waiting for a vote on the Senate floor. Many of the nominees have been waiting for months, while a few have been waiting for almost a year.

Senate Judiciary Committee Moves Judges Forward, Full Senate Still Gripped by GOP Obstruction

The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved another 11 of President Obama’s judicial nominees, sending them to the full senate where they’ll join 23 others waiting for approval.

A Government That Works: Americans Want a Functioning Government

Pundits will spend months discussing and dissecting the results of our most recent elections. Whether the root cause of the results is the country’s economic situation, the flood of outside money or something else, one thing is clear: Americans are angry at gridlock and partisanship in Washington. They don’t want political squabbles and they don’t want more talking points: they want a government that works.

And a well functioning judicial branch is central to having such a government.

Senate GOP Blocks All Judicial Nominees as it Leaves for Recess

The Senate left for recess last night without confirming a single one of the 23 pending federal judicial nominees. 21 of these nominees have been waiting over five months for Senate votes, some for nearly a year. Seventeen were approved by the Judiciary Committee without opposition. Eleven have been nominated to fill vacancies designated “judicial emergencies.”

Marge Baker, Executive Vice President of People For the American Way, issued the following statement:

PFAW Calls for GOP Senators to Show Responsibility, Confirm Stalled Judicial Nominees

Republican Senators are looking to show that they have any interest in responsible governance before November’s election, this is the last week for them to show it.

Currently, 23 of President Obama’s judicial nominees are waiting for a vote by the full Senate. Nineteen of those nominations have been pending for more than five months, some for nearly a year. Eleven of those nominations are to fill vacancies designated “judicial emergencies.”

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