Opposition to Southwick Mounts

As today’s Roll Call reports (subscription required), this week could mark the first showdown over a judicial nominee since the Democrats took control of the Senate in January. For six months, senators have “steadily approv[ed] President Bush’s top-tier judicial nominations,” but on Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on the nomination of Judge Leslie Southwick.

Alliance for Justice, along with Senator Barack Obama and numerous other organizations, including the Congressional Black Caucus, the Magnolia Bar Association, the Mississippi NAACP, Americans for Democratic Action, the Human Rights Campaign, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the National Employment Lawyers Association, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Organization for Women, and People for the American Way, opposes the confirmation of Judge Southwick and urges the Senate Judiciary Committee to vote against him.

As we have previously reported, there are numerous things in Judge Southwick’s record which raise considerable concerns about his fitness for a lifetime appointment on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Southwick’s hearing performance and his answers to written questions following his hearing have only exacerbated our concerns.

For more information on Judge Southwick, please read AFJ’s preliminary report, fact sheet, and post-hearing report, and notice of opposition.