Press Release - The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Civil and Human Rights Coalition Responds to White House Renomination of Judicial Candidates
For Immediate Release
Contact: Scott Westbrook Simpson, 202.466.2061, simpson@civilrights.org
January 5, 2011
Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement following the renomination of 42 of President Obama’s judicial nominees:
“President Obama’s decision to renominate dozens of judicial candidates is an encouraging sign for justice. It’s also an opportunity for the new Senate to demonstrate its commitment to act responsibly to fill the unprecedented number of court vacancies, many of which have been declared ‘judicial emergencies.’
Over the last two years, the Senate Republican minority shamefully abused Senate rules to delay and deny confirmation votes to scores of well-qualified individuals seeking to serve their country in the judicial and executive branches of government. The disrespect shown to our federal courts has prompted Chief Justice Roberts to criticize the Senate for blocking judicial nominations and has led Sen. Patrick Leahy to denounce his colleagues for ‘crippling our courts’ ability to fulfill their constitutional role.’
Highly qualified nominees such as Goodwin Liu, Edward Chen, John McConnell, and Louis Butler deserve an up-or-down confirmation vote on the Senate floor. We urge senators of both parties to put partisanship aside and exercise their advise and consent role with respect to the President’s nominees.”
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Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.
