Alliance for Justice Hails Senate Judiciary Committee Vote on Elena Kagan and Urges Speedy Confirmation

Washington, D.C., July 20, 2010 – The following statement has been issued by Nan Aron, President, Alliance for Justice:

Alliance for Justice commends the Senate Judiciary Committee for voting to send the nomination of Elena Kagan to the full Senate for a final vote on her nomination to become an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. We urge the Senate to begin debate immediately and confirm her expeditiously. We are confident she will serve with distinction, and we are particularly pleased that for the first time in history three women will be serving together on the Court.

At the same time, we are reminded that along with Solicitor General Kagan, there are currently 22 appointees to the federal bench awaiting a final vote in the Senate, and another 25 nominees who have yet to receive a vote in the Judiciary Committee. Although appointments to the Supreme Court are obviously of paramount importance, the entirety of the federal judiciary, which handles far more cases affecting many more people than the Supreme Court, deserves to be fully staffed. The ability of the courts to serve the American people should not be held hostage to political gamesmanship and pre-election posturing. All nominees to the federal courts deserve prompt and respectful consideration and should receive votes immediately. Let's begin with Elena Kagan, but let's not end there. 

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For a copy of AFJ's current report on the status of federal judicial nominations, please go to http://www.afj.org/check-the-facts/nominees/judicial-selection-snapshot.pdf.