UPDATE: Senate Fails to Advance Goodwin Liu’s Nomination

On Thursday afternoon, the Senate failed to advance Professor Goodwin Liu’s nomination to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In a press release issued shortly after the vote, Rabbi David Saperstein, Director and Counsel of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, said:

“Some of the senators who voted against cloture today have previously
stated unequivocally that filibustering judicial nominees and denying
them a fair confirmation vote is unconstitutional and wrong. Yet they
chose to block the confirmation vote of Prof. Liu, whom the American
Bar Association and prominent lawyers from both sides of the aisle have
repeatedly declared to be highly qualified for this appointment.
Today’s vote is a disturbing reminder that obstructionist tactics have
become the rule instead of the exception for judicial nominations. We
call on the Senate to disavow such unproductive practices and fulfill
its constitutional obligation to keep our justice system functioning.”

Prof. Liu was initially nominated to serve on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
almost 15 months ago. Today’s failed cloture vote means the seat to which he was nominated–which has been identified as a “judicial emergency“–will remain vacant and those under the jurisdiction of the Ninth Circuit of Appeals will continue to wait an unconscionably long time for their cases to be heard.

Find out how your Senators voted and call them to express your views on their position. You can reach the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121.

Contact me via email or at 202.387.2800 for more information.