Confirm Goodwin Liu!
On Wednesday, the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) expressed support for the confirmation of Goodwin Liu to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Prof. Liu is the first judicial candidate that the URJ has supported since the passage of our 2008 Resolution on Support for Judicial, Executive, and Independent Agency Nominations. And, Prof. Liu certainly deserves this distinction. His academic and professional credentials as well as his thoughtful approach to constitutional questions make him eminently qualified to serve.
A Rhodes Scholar, Prof. Liu has taught at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law since 2003, and has served as Associate Dean and Professor of Law since 2008. In 2009, he was awarded Berkeley's most prestigious teaching honor--the Distinguished Teaching Award. Prof. Liu also has significant legal experience outside of academia. He clerked for D.C. Circuit Judge David S. Tatel and served as Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Education before clerking for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg during the October 2000 term of the Supreme Court.
He has also lent his keen intellect and expertise to various organizations committed to upholding civil right and civil liberties, having worked for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Right Under the Law, and served on the boards of the American Constitution Society, American Civil Liberties Union, and the National Women's Law Center. (And, to top it all off, he was a speaker at the 2007 URJ Biennial in San Diego!)
In all of these roles, Prof. Liu has displayed a superb legal mind and an abiding respect for constitutional values. Accordingly, he has garnered support and praise from both sides of the aisle.
However, he has also been the target of significant opposition from those who do not agree with his judicial philosophy, which he calls "constitutional fidelity." This approach to the law acknowledges the need to adhere to core constitutional values while making the law "relevant to the conditions and challenges of each generation through an ongoing process of interpretation." It has been criticized by many who believe that the original intent of the framers of the Constitution should be the only consideration when interpreting the law.
The Judiciary Committee held a productive yet contentious hearing on Prof. Liu's nomination on April 16th and considered his nomination at an Executive Business meeting yesterday. Unfortunately, opponents delayed a Committee vote on Prof. Liu's nomination, which will be held over (at least) until the May 13th Executive Business meeting.
We will keep close track of the progress of Prof. Liu's nomination and will weigh in with Senators whenever appropriate to express our support for his confirmation. Expect updates on the blog and opportunities to take action in the coming weeks!