Crossposted at APAforProgress where this week we have a series of posts on Asian Americans and the judiciary.
Professor Goodwin Liu's nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit will be voted on by the US Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, May 13, 2010.
Professor Goodwin Liu’s nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will be voted on by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, May 13. You can support him by calling Senate Judiciary Committee members this week at 202-224-3121 and asking them to vote for Professor Liu.
Why should you support Goodwin Liu?
The son of Taiwanese immigrants, Professor Liu has a wide range of experiences that make him well-qualified to be a judge. He is a distinguished graduate of Stanford University, Oxford University, and Yale Law School, a Rhodes Scholar, and a former Supreme Court clerk. Moreover, the confirmation of the eminently qualified Professor Liu (Stanford, Yale would help promote diversity in the federal judiciary, where Asian Pacific Americans are significantly underrepresented.
Prior to the recent confirmation of Judge Denny Chin to the Second Circuit, there were no Asian Pacific Americans among about 175 active federal appellate judges.
Only five Asian Pacific Americans have served as federal appellate court judges. Out of approximately 875 federal judgeships, only 10 are Asian Pacific Americans.
Professor Liu is the second APA federal appellate court nominee by President Obama.
How do I show my support for Professor Liu?
Call the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and support Professor Liu, follow these steps:
Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
When the operator at the switchboard picks up, let them know that you would like to be connected to the office of one of the Senate Judiciary Committee members. Calls to home state senators, states where you have a business connection, and Republican Senators may be particularly helpful. For a complete list of members, click here.
When a staffer at the Senator’s office picks up, politely introduce yourself and say that you would like the Senator to confirm Goodwin Liu to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and that his confirmation is important to the Asian Pacific American community. The staffer may ask you for your address or zip code to confirm the state in which you reside. The staffer will make a note of your call and your support of Professor Liu.
Take a few minutes to call the Judiciary Committee members today. You can make a big difference and help improve the composition (and complexion) of the US judiciary simply by endorsing the confirmation of Professor Goodwin Liu as a federal appellate judge. THANK YOU!