AFJ Condemns Poisonous Partisanship of Republican Filibuster of Judge Robert Bacharach

Washington, D.C., July 30, 2012—Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron issued the following statement on the failure of the United States Senate to invoke cloture and end the unprecedented filibuster of the nomination of Oklahoma Judge Robert Bacharach for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit:

The failure today of the Senate to end the filibuster of Judge Robert Bacharach for a seat on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals is one of the most disgraceful acts of obstruction in the unending line of delaying tactics used by Republicans to stymie the judicial appointments of President Obama.  It is profoundly discouraging that the American political system has fallen so far into the realm of hyper-partisan dysfunction that senators are willing to play politics with the federal judiciary. The Senate has become a theater of the politically absurd, and is so poisoned with partisanship that even the two senators from Judge Bacharach’s home state, who had expressed unequivocal support for his nomination, willingly voted to ignore their obligations to the Constitution and their fellow Oklahoman.

For the first time, a circuit court nominee reported to the floor with bipartisan support was successfully filibustered, breaking long-standing tradition and further shattering public confidence in the ability of the Senate to function responsibly within our democratic system. Judge Bacharach, a highly esteemed nominee of unquestioned qualifications and bipartisan support, deserves a simple yes-or-no vote, and the people living within the Tenth Circuit deserve to have judges to hear their cases, whether it is an election year or not.

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A report on the history and use of the Senate’s so-called “Thurmond Rule” is available here.

Up-to-the-minute statistics on judicial nominations in the current year 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 Nominees Pending on the Senate Floor, 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.