judicial vacancies

This morning the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve Caitlin Halligan to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the D.C. Circuit and Patty Shwartz to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit.  The Committee also approved nine District Court nominees and two nominees for the U.S. Court of International Trade.

Since 2003 Shwartz has served as a Magistrate Judge on the New Jersey U.S. District Court and includes among her supporters New Jersey governor Chris Christie.   Halligan, an accomplished appellate litigator who has practiced in front of the Supreme Court, is currently General Counsel of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and has strong support from the law enforcement community in New York and around the country.  She was first nominated for the seat on the D.C. Circuit in 2010 and has faced ongoing Republican obstruction despite the Court’s pressing vacancies.  The D.C. Circuit Court, the nation’s second most important court, currently has four vacancies (out of only eleven judgeships).  This has serious ramifications for the caseloads for each of the remaining active judges, which have continued to rise steeply in recent years.

“The need to fill vacancies has never been more pressing,” said Marge Baker, Executive Vice President of People For the American Way.  “We are heartened that two highly qualified women have been approved by the Committee for the Circuit Courts.  Halligan and Shwartz both deserve prompt votes.”

Of the thirteen judicial nominees voted on this morning, eight are women, six are minorities, and one is openly gay.

“These highly capable nominees come from diverse backgrounds,” Baker continued.  “It is encouraging to see a list of judicial nominees who look like America.”

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Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell announced Wednesday that he will block the confirmations of federal circuit court nominees from now until after the November elections, citing what he claims is a Senate tradition sometimes called the “Thurmond Rule.” Ten percent of federal judgeships are vacant, creating caseload backlogs so large that 30 of those seats are considered “judicial emergencies.”

“Senate Republicans have once again put politics ahead of the needs of the American people,” said Michael Keegan, President of People For the American Way. “Blocking the president’s well-qualified nominees seriously hampers the ability of the federal courts to serve Americans who seek justice in a court of law.

“Acting on the president’s nominations is the Senate’s responsibility to the American people. Unfortunately, politics is the GOP’s top priority, and it’s clear that Senator McConnell would prefer to keep the judiciary dangerously understaffed in hopes of someday filling those seats with a Republican president’s nominees. Because obstruction has been their strategy since losing the White House, most of the nominees caught in their trap would ordinarily have been confirmed long ago. Thanks to the GOP’s decision to shirk its responsibility by playing games, the backlog of nominees continues to grow and the American people are denied a fully functioning justice system.

“The President’s nominees awaiting confirmation are well qualified and will serve fairly and impartially. Almost all received strong bipartisan support from the Senate Judiciary Committee. There is absolutely no legitimate reason to block these confirmations, and the GOP should be ashamed to cite an indefensible tradition to justify this act.”

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FOR PLANNING PURPOSES

CONTACT: Jodi Hirsh 412-391-2005 / info@justactionllc.com

Three of Pennsylvania's foremost experts on the federal courts will discuss the deepening vacancy crisis in American courts, and specifically in Pennsylvania, at an event in Philadelphia on Wednesday, June 13.

The Honorable Norma L. Shapiro, Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Prof. Mary Frances Berry of the University of Pennsylvania will join Prof. Anita L. Allen of the University of Pennsylvania for an in-depth exploration of the factors that have led to one in ten seats on the federal courts being vacant, including seven seats in Pennsylvania. These vacancies force Pennsylvanians to face unacceptable delays as they seek their day in court.

What: Panel Discussion: The Continuing Judicial Vacancy Crisis

When: Wednesday, June 13. 2012, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Where: University of Pennsylvania Law School 3400 Chestnut Street, Room T145, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Press contact: Jodi Hirsh, 412-391-2005 or info@justactionllc.com

Cosponsored by the Pennsylvania Coalition for Constitutional Values, People For the American Way, the National Council of Jewish Women - Greater Philadelphia Section, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and the Alliance for Justice.

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