President Obama today nominated two judges to serve on the Seventh Circuit Courts of Appeals. The nominees, from Wisconsin and Indiana, will fill seats that have been vacant since January 2010 and February 2015 respectively.

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

“President Obama should be applauded for moving forward with the nomination process in the face of years of Republican obstruction. Americans are sick and tired of gridlock in Washington. Our elected officials were sent here to do a job, and it’s time for them to put aside petty political disagreements and actually do it. In this case that means moving expeditiously to hold hearings and then votes on the individuals nominated by President Obama.

“Since 2009, Republicans have used every tool at their disposal to slow walk and delay the confirmation of qualified judicial nominees. That obstruction hasn’t always made the headlines, but it has had a profound impact on the lives of ordinary Americans who deserve to have their day in court. Vacancies in our judicial branch slow the administration of justice and harm individual people and small businesses who can’t wait years to have their cases resolved. President Obama’s decision to nominate these individuals is an important step forward. Now it’s up to Senate to respond in kind.”

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