On the judicial nominations front, the Senate continues to make exciting progress.
We are delighted that on Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Dale Ho (S.D.N.Y), whose nomination has been pending since September 2021. As one of the nation’s premier civil rights attorneys, Mr. Ho has spent his career fighting for our most critical constitutional rights and legal protections. Mr. Ho will also be one of only two Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) men sitting on the Southern District of New York.
After waiting 21 months, the Senate finally confirmed Judge Hernán D. Vera (C.D.Cal.), the son of Argentine immigrants who was recommended by Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein of California. Judge Vera spent the majority of his career at Public Counsel, the largest pro bono public interest firm in the world. Specializing in class action suits, Judge Vera started as Directing Attorney of the Consumer Law Project and ultimately served as President and CEO.
In more good news, Casey Pitts (N.D. Cal.) was also confirmed this week. Mr. Pitts's extensive experience in complex federal and state litigation, representing international and local labor unions, consumers, government entities, and public interest organizations, has thoroughly prepared him for the issues he will face on the District Court. With years of complex and high-profile litigation experience advocating for working people, Mr. Pitts will bring robust knowledge, skill and an important perspective on labor rights to the bench. He will also be the first openly gay judge on that court.
Earlier this week, Majority Leader Schumer also filed cloture on incredible nominees including Nusrat Choudhury (E.D.N.Y.), and Julie Rikelman (1st Cir., Mass.). Both nominees were part of AFJ’s Confirmations Overdue campaign, through which we push for the swift confirmation of equal justice champions. We look forward to watching all these nominees sail through the confirmation process now that Senate attendance issues have been resolved.
Ready for more happy tidings? Read our letter of support for Julie Rikelman (1st Cir., Mass.). Currently, U.S. Litigation Director for the Center for Reproductive Rights, Rikelman is a veteran civil rights litigator known for her work protecting reproductive rights in state and federal courts throughout the country. Her nomination has been pending since August 2022.
