AFJ Condemns Senate Failure to Confirm Caitlin Halligan

Washington, D.C., December 6, 2011—Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron issued the following statement on the failure to end the Republican filibuster of the nomination of Caitlin Halligan to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit:

Today’s vote by Republicans to filibuster the nomination of Caitlin Halligan has shattered any pretense that the judicial confirmation process is being conducted in a rational or honest manner. Ms. Halligan’s record of achievement in public service and private practice is impeccable and there is no conceivable justification for denying her a final vote. The notion advanced by her opponents that she is somehow out of the mainstream of legal thought or holds extreme views is ludicrous and reflects a breathtaking level of dishonesty and hypocrisy. Today’s vote, combined with a three-year record of unrelenting obstruction, demonstrates that Senate Republicans have abandoned fairness and responsibility and are forcing the woefully understaffed federal judiciary to pay the price for their increasingly shrill and destructive partisan games. It is clear beyond any doubt that the 2005 agreement forbidding filibusters except under “extraordinary circumstances” is now dead and that Republicans have broken their promise to the American people to deal with judicial nominations in a fair and principled way. Today’s vote is a tragedy for the country, for the judiciary, for Senate tradition, and for Caitlin Halligan, who has been unjustly denied an opportunity to serve our nation.

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For the most accurate, up-to-date information on the judicial selection process, visit the Alliance for Justice’s Judicial Selection page, which contains data on Nominees Pending on the Senate Floor, a list of Vacancies Without Nominees, our Judicial Selection Calendar, and our Judicial Selection Snapshot.

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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.