The 2021-2022 Supreme Court term is now over, but we will feel the ripple effects of many cruel decisions for years to come. The radicalized Trump Court overturned Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortion; undermined the separation of church and state; jeopardized the ability of states to enforce common sense gun violence prevention measures; disenfranchised Black voters in Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana; voted to significantly limit the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and more.
These decisions demonstrate that the Court is hellbent on overturning progress and rolling back our most cherished rights. They also highlight the need for a balanced, fair, and accountable federal judiciary that protects the rights of all people, not just the wealthy and powerful. Congressional efforts to codify access to abortion and other rights are a critical part of our path forward. We also must create a judiciary that works for everyone — one filled with experientially and demographically diverse judges who are committed to equal justice under the law.
The Biden administration should be commended for confirming 70 Article III lifetime federal judges thus far. Yet, should the Republican Party take control of the Senate in this year’s midterm elections, we know progress on balancing the federal courts will come to a grinding halt. Given this devastating possibility, we must act urgently to fill the 122 outstanding judicial vacancies before 2023.
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New nominees Cindy Chung, Mia Roberts Perez, and Jamal Whitehead |
The Good News: Backgrounds and Experiences of New Nominees!
This week, President Biden announced 11 nominees who will continue to broaden the diversity of backgrounds and professional experiences on our federal judiciary and have a demonstrated commitment to protecting equal rights for all. The first slate of Pennsylvania candidates included four women of color and three former public defenders; the second slate featured historic Latinx and LGBTQ+ candidates. We appreciate that several of these nominees embody the diversity we seek in our courts, with an understanding that we still have a long way to go. Here are three noteworthy nominees:
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Cindy Chung, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Third Circuit, is currently the United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Previously, she served as a prosecutor in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section, where she prosecuted hate crimes, human trafficking, and sexual misconduct. If confirmed, Ms. Chung would be the first Asian American to ever sit on the Third Circuit.
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Mia Roberts Perez, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, has served on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas since 2016. Before becoming a judge, she was a solo practitioner specializing in criminal defense and family law and was an Assistant Defender at the Defender Associations of Philadelphia. Judge Roberts Perez would be the first Asian American and second Latina judge on the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
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Jamal Whitehead, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, is a plaintiff’s attorney focused on unlawful employment practices and serious personal-injury litigation. He has dedicated his career to public service, previously serving as a trial attorney for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. Mr. Whitehead is a Black man and identifies as a person with a disability.
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Pay Attention: Public Interest Lawyers Must Be Full Senate’s Priority
These lifetime positions will have a significant impact on every important issue — from abortion to voting rights to the environment — for decades to come, so we are getting more aggressive in our push to fill every vacancy. Alliance for Justice is working with our partners and supporters to keep up the pressure on President Biden and Senate Democrats. We are asking the Senate to prioritize floor time for judicial confirmations and postpone the start of the August recess to ensure all current nominations get a hearing this work period.
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