Judiciary
The composition of the federal judiciary is a civil rights issue of profound importance to all Americans. The individuals charged with dispensing justice in our society have a direct impact on civil rights protections for all. As such, the federal judiciary must be perceived by the public as an instrument of justice, and the individuals who are selected for this branch of government must be the embodiment of fairness and impartiality.
Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality of Senate Filibuster RuleMay 16, 2012 - Posted by Avril Lighty Common Cause, a government watchdog group, filed a lawsuit yesterday with the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., challenging the use of the filibuster in the Senate as unconstitutional. President Obama Asks Senate for ‘Up or Down Vote’ on Judges and Other NomineesJanuary 25, 2012 - Posted by Ron Bigler In his State of the Union speech last night, President Obama called on the Senate to end the partisan gridlock that is blocking or delaying the confirmation of qualified judges and other executive branch appointments. Senate Obstructionists Block Obama Nominees for Financial Protection Agency, DC Circuit CourtDecember 9, 2011 - Posted by Ron Bigler The U.S. Senate this week failed to move forward on votes to confirm two high-profile Obama administration appointees. The nominations of both Caitlin Halligan to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and Richard Cordray to be the first director of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) failed to get the 60 votes needed to overcome Republican-led filibusters and allow for up-or-down confirmation votes. Federal Court Upholds Constitutionality of Key Provision of the Voting Rights ActSeptember 23, 2011 - Posted by Tyler Lewis Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge John Bates upheld the constitutionality of a key provision of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) in a case brought by Shelby County, Alabama. Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Nomination of Goodwin Liu to the California Supreme CourtJuly 27, 2011 - Posted by Ron Bigler The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights welcomed the news that California Governor Jerry Brown has nominated law professor Goodwin Liu to serve on the state's supreme court. Closing the Courtroom Doors to Ordinary AmericansJuly 14, 2011 - Posted by The Leadership Conference Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions reveal a growing trend toward limiting Americans’ access to the courts, according to witnesses testifying at a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Supreme Court’s Decision in Wal-Mart Case Severely Limits the Ability to Challenge Systemic DiscriminationJune 21, 2011 - Posted by The Leadership Conference Yesterday’s Supreme Court decision in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes et al. will limit the use of “class action” lawsuits and make it harder to bring large-scale discrimination cases, according to many civil and human rights groups. Supreme Court Orders California to Reduce Its Prison Population, Address Civil Rights ViolationsMay 24, 2011 - Posted by Avril Lighty The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday that overcrowding in California prisons, which has led to grossly unsanitary conditions and inadequate access to medical and mental health care, violates constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. Filibuster Blocks Confirmation Vote on Goodwin LiuMay 19, 2011 - Posted by Avril Lighty The Senate today was blocked from holding a confirmation vote on the nomination of Professor Goodwin Liu to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit when it failed to garner enough votes to overcome a procedural hurdle. Civil Rights Coalition Urges Confirmation of Goodwin Liu for 9th Circuit Court of AppealsMay 18, 2011 - Posted by Ron Bigler In a letter to U.S. Senators, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights today called for the confirmation of Professor Goodwin Liu to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. "Professor Liu’s stellar background, his intellectual honesty and independence, and his utmost respect for the Constitution and its values all make him an outstanding candidate," wrote Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference, and Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference. They urged senators to vote "yes" on both cloture and final confirmation of Liu. A large number of civil and human rights organizations are also supporting Liu’s confirmation. Liu's nomination has languished for more than a year as some senators employed an unprecedented level of obstructionist tactics to slow down many of President Obama’s nominees. |
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