AFJ praises confirmation of Jane Kelly for Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

Michelle Schwartz, Director of Justice Programs at Alliance For Justice, issued the following statement  on the confirmation of Jane Kelly for the United States Court Of Appeals For The Eighth Circuit

Jane Kelly

               We applaud the Senate both for confirming Jane Kelly and for doing it quickly.  This is how the process should work – and we hope it is a sign of things to come.

               Jane Kelly will bring much-needed gender and professional diversity to the Eighth Circuit.  She is only the second woman to serve on the court in its 120-year history.  As a career federal defender, she will bring both a commitment to public service and an important perspective on criminal justice to the Eighth Circuit.

               Although President Obama has done an excellent job of improving diversity on the federal bench measured by race, gender and sexual orientation, there is room for improvement when it comes to the professional backgrounds of nominees.  In this way, the nomination and confirmation of Jane Kelly is a promising step in the right direction.