Alliance for Justice Urges Prompt Action on 11 Judicial Nominations as Test of New Cooperative Spirit

Washington, D.C., February 3, 2011– Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron issued the following statement in the wake of today’s vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee to send 11 judicial nominees to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote:

Alliance for Justice is gratified that the Senate Judiciary Committee has begun once again the process of fulfilling the Senate’s constitutional duty to staff the federal district courts and circuit courts of appeals, by sending 11 judicial nominees to the Senate floor for a final vote. The diverse group of men and women approved without opposition by the committee today were originally submitted by President Obama last year, but were stymied by relentless tactics of obstruction and delay that have the left the federal courts in a state of crisis, exemplified by 49 “judicial emergencies” that currently hamper the administration of justice in every corner of the nation.

Senate leaders promised a new spirit of compromise and cooperation during the recent debates over rules reform, and held out the hope that this year the Senate would return to “regular order” and bring judicial nominees to a final vote on a consistent and frequent basis, without unnecessary delays and parliamentary obstacles. We trust that this first wave of nominees, all of whom are superbly qualified and have received unanimous, bipartisan support in the committee, will receive prompt final votes and that the President, the Judiciary Committee, and the entire Senate will continue this process until the federal courts have been restored to full strength.

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For up-to-date statistics on judicial nominations and vacancies in the federal court system, click here for AFJ’s Judicial Selection Snapshot (updated whenever the numbers change).

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Alliance for Justice is a national association of over 100 organizations dedicated to advancing justice and democracy. For more than 30 years, AFJ  has led the fight for a more equitable society on behalf of a broad constituency of environmental, consumer, civil and women's rights, children's, senior citizens' and other groups. Alliance for Justice is premised on the belief that all Americans have the right to secure justice in the courts and to have our voices heard when government makes decisions that affect our lives.