AFJ: There is no excuse for delaying Obama D.C. Circuit nominees

Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron issued the following statement today concerning President Obama’s nominations of Patricia Ann Millett, Cornelia Pillard and Robert Wilkins to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit:

Nan Aron

We applaud President Obama for nominating supremely qualified individuals to the three vacancies on the D.C. Circuit, the nation’s second most important court, and we commend him for sending a bold, public signal that these nominees are a top priority.   These choices also reflect the president’s outstanding record for increasing diversity on the federal bench.  We were pleased to stand with the President at today’s announcement, and we are pleased to stand with him in his effort to fill these seats.  Now Senators must fulfill their constitutional duty by swiftly reviewing and voting yes or no on these nominations.

There is no excuse for delay.  The D.C. Circuit decides cases that affect every aspect of all Americans’ lives, from the air we breathe to workplace safety to the health of our families to the ability to regulate financial institutions.  This court needs to be at full strength in order to manage its critically important caseload, the unique nature of which may well affect the ability of the government to serve the public interest.

 With stakes this high, we are prepared to join with President Obama as he champions the effort to ensure that the Senate fulfills its constitutional obligation to fill the circuit’s ninth, 10th and 11th seats without delay — just as it did during President George W. Bush’s administration.  There has never been a more important time for all who care about the future of our country to mobilize against the destructive tactics of obstruction that have wounded our courts and damaged public confidence in our democratic institutions.

●Read Nan Aron’s column about the D.C. Circuit in The Huffington Post.
●Watch Nan Aron discuss the D.C. Circuit with Melissa Harris Perry on MSNBC
●Read more about the D.C. Circuit.