Amy Matsui, Senior Counsel, National Women's Law Center
Cross-posted from NWLC's blog, Womenstake
As the lame duck session of Congress draws to a close, it's essential that the Senate confirm Goodwin Liu to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Professor Liu is one of the nation’s most prominent and well-respected lawyers — acclaimed for his brilliance and legal accomplishments by Republican and Democratic lawyers alike. Like many other judicial nominees, he has been held hostage by a determined minority in the Senate for months, despite — worse still, perhaps even because of — his exceptional legal qualifications and demonstrated commitment to public service. Making the delay even more egregious, he would fill a "judicial emergency" seat in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and would double the number of active Asian-American appellate court judges (there is currently only one).
It is crucial that we not lose this opportunity to confirm a judicial nominee like Professor Liu. There isn’t a moment to lose — we need Goodwin Liu on the court working to give women and all Americans the justice we deserve. Senate Majority Leader Reid has the power to make the Senate do what's right. Tell Senator Reid not to adjourn the Senate before taking a yes-or-no vote on constitutional law professor, Goodwin Liu.