AFJ Condemns Political Games Further Delaying the Confirmation of Judge Adalberto Jose Jordan to the 11th Circuit

Washington, D.C., February 14, 2012—Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron issued the following statement on the endless delays confronting the nomination of Judge Adalberto José Jordán, who will be the first Cuban-born judge on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals:

After months of interminable, senseless delays by Republican senators, the nomination of Judge Adalberto José Jordán to a seat on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals is now being forced to run a final gauntlet of obstruction and political posturing. The nomination of this uncontroversial, widely respected nominee with bipartisan support was subjected to a pointless filibuster that was broken last night in an overwhelming vote of 89-5. But rather than let the nomination proceed immediately to a final vote, a single Republican senator has invoked a rule that has forced the entire business of the Senate to come to a grinding halt for 30 hours until a vote on Judge Jordán must be held.

The treatment of Judge Jordán at the hands of Senate Republicans is a case study in legislative obstruction and political gamesmanship. Judge Jordán, who has served with distinction on a federal district court in Florida for 13 years, was approved unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee in October 13, 2011. He is strongly supported by both his home-state senators, including Republican Marco Rubio. The seat he was nominated to fill has been vacant since February 2011 and was designated a judicial emergency by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. There has been no ideological opposition to his appointment. No one has questioned his qualifications. Yet it has taken 126 days for Judge Jordán to get his final vote. It is hard to imagine any rational explanation for the manner in which this unopposed, highly qualified nominee was treated, nor for the delays afflicting the other 17 men and women currently awaiting a final vote on the Senate floor.

It is a matter of great satisfaction for the people living within the jurisdiction of the 11th Circuit that they are getting a judge of great dignity and integrity, two characteristics we wish were more prevalent in the legislative body that confirmed him.

A detailed profile of Judge Jordán is available here.

NOTE: Up-to-the-minute statistics for judicial nominations are always available online on the Alliance for Justice’s Judicial Selection page, which contains the highly regarded Judicial Selection Snapshot, as well as data on Pending Nominees, a list of Vacancies Without Nominees, and our new Judicial Selection Calendar.

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Alliance for Justice is a national association of over 100 organizations, representing a broad array of groups committed to progressive values and the creation of an equitable, just, and free society. AFJ works to ensure that the federal judiciary advances core constitutional values, preserves human rights and unfettered access to the courts, and adheres to the even-handed administration of justice for all Americans. It is the leading expert on the legal framework for nonprofit advocacy efforts, providing definitive information, resources, and technical assistance that encourages organizations and their funding partners to fully exercise their right to be active participants in the democratic process. AFJ is based in Washington, D.C.