Pelavin: "The Senate should seize this second chance to give Professor Liu the fair consideration that every judicial nominee deserves."
Contact: Eric Harris and Deborah Swerdlow
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 14, 2010 -- In response to President Barack Obama's re-nomination of Goodwin Liu to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Mark Pelavin, Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
We applaud President Obama's re-nomination of Professor Goodwin Liu to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to expeditiously forward his nomination to the Senate floor. As we said upon his initial nomination, Professor Liu is an extremely well-qualified nominee with impressive professional and academic accomplishments. His intelligence and commitment to upholding the rights embodied in our Constitution will be assets to our justice system and contribute to the preservation of the fundamental values that the Reform Movement supports.
Senate Judiciary Committee has already held a hearing on Professor Liu's nomination, rigorously reviewed his record, and recommended him to the full Senate. Professor Liu's nomination should no longer be held hostage to obstructionist tactics. The Senate should seize this second chance to give Professor Liu the fair consideration that every judicial nominee deserves.
With approximately one in eight federal judicial seats now empty, it is more important than ever for well-qualified nominees to be confirmed to the federal bench. We urge the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate leadership to aid the smooth functioning of our judicial system by confirming Goodwin Liu for a position that has remained vacant for too long.
