[[link removed]][[link removed]]John,
The judicial stars continue to align and today we celebrate the nomination and confirmation of more history-making candidates.
In the last few weeks, more important vacancies have opened in Illinois (7th Circuit), Indiana (7th Circuit), Pennsylvania (3rd Circuit), Washington D.C. (D.C. District), Iowa (Southern District), and just today, Maryland (4th Circuit) and Michigan (6th Circuit)! We expect movement on some of these openings very soon. DC Congresswoman Eleanor Norton’s Commission is already accepting applications [[link removed]] for the D.C. District Court now through December 21st. With so many judges announcing their upcoming senior status, it seems that the Biden Administration is poised to keep up its record-breaking pace.
See below for the latest.
The Good News: Historic Advancement for AAPI Nominees
On December 2, 2021, Leader Schumer began the process for the full Senate to confirm Lucy Koh and Jennifer Sung , among others, both nominated to the Ninth Circuit.
Last night, the incredibly accomplished Lucy Koh broke barriers as the first Korean American woman to serve on a federal appeals court! Now we hope to clear the full deck of six pending confirmations before the end of 2021, including Jennifer Sung , a former union organizer and labor lawyer who will bring critical experience fighting for workers to the bench.
Dale Ho , the nation’s preeminent voting rights and election law attorney, moved a step closer to attaining a seat on the District Court for the Southern District of New York. At his hearing on December 1, 2021, he appeared with three other phenomenal panelists — all women —including Victoria Calvert, a career public defender, and Sarah Geraghty, a civil rights attorney (both nominated to the Northern District of Georgia). Ho’s performance only highlighted his empathy, humility, and temperament, undercutting the conservative attacks designed to discredit his confirmation.
[[link removed]][[link removed]]On December 2, 2021, Leader Schumer began the process for the full Senate to confirm Lucy Koh and Jennifer Sung , among others, both nominated to the Ninth Circuit.
Last night, the incredibly accomplished Lucy Koh broke barriers as the first Korean American woman to serve on a federal appeals court! Now we hope to clear the full deck of six pending confirmations before the end of 2021, including Jennifer Sung , a former union organizer and labor lawyer who will bring critical experience fighting for workers to the bench.
[[link removed]]Dale Ho, the nation’s preeminent voting rights and election law attorney, moved a step closer to attaining a seat on the District Court for the Southern District of New York. At his hearing on December 1, 2021, he appeared with three other phenomenal panelists — all women —including Victoria Calvert, a career public defender, and Sarah Geraghty, a civil rights attorney (both nominated to the Northern District of Georgia). Ho’s performance only highlighted his empathy, humility, and temperament, undercutting the conservative attacks designed to discredit his confirmation.
It is quite remarkable to witness the advancement of these three Asian American attorneys at the same time, a reminder of this truly unique moment in our history.
Pay Attention: More Nominees are One Step Closer
The Senate Judiciary Committee also voted to advance the nominations of twelve federal judges, including six nominees in California. Here are just a few of these exciting nominees:
Charlotte Sweeny (Colorado) : Sweeny, a plaintiff’s attorney, has extensive experience representing workers. She would be the first openly LGBTQ+ judge in Colorado and the first LGBTQ+ woman to serve as a federal district court judge in any state west of the Mississippi.
Hernán D. Vera (Central District of California): Vera currently serves as a judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Before taking the bench, he had a distinguished career in public service. He is the former President and CEO of Public Counsel, the largest pro bono public interest law firm in the nation, and a former staff attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF).
[[link removed]]Charlotte Sweeny (Colorado) : Sweeny, a plaintiff’s attorney, has extensive experience representing workers. She would be the first openly LGBTQ+ judge in Colorado and the first LGBTQ+ woman to serve as a federal district court judge in any state west of the Mississippi.
[[link removed]]Hernán D. Vera (Central District of California): Vera currently serves as a judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Before taking the bench, he had a distinguished career in public service. He is the former President and CEO of Public Counsel, the largest pro bono public interest law firm in the nation, and a former staff attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF).
What’s Next? More LGBTQ+ Circuit Judges!
On December 15, we look forward to Alison Nathan’s hearing. Currently a district court judge, she is nominated to the Second Circuit, and when confirmed will be only the second openly LGBTQ+ woman to sit on a federal court of appeals — the first being Biden nominee Beth Robinson, confirmed in November also to the Second Circuit.
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