President Obama’s Federal Court Nominee, Prof. Goodwin Liu, Is Under Attack

by Nancy Keenan · 2010-06-10 14:17:00 UTC
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“We'll not confirm somebody like that.” That’s what Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) threatened when discussing Goodwin Liu, one of President Obama’s highly qualified  nominees to the federal courts. Liu’s offense? He supports basic American values like our constitutional right to privacy.

It’s good to know we can always count on Sen. Sessions to bring smear tactics to the judicial-confirmation process. We certainly can’t count on him to be a pro-choice vote.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) even called Prof. Liu “the most controversial nominee of President Obama.”

So who is Goodwin Liu, and why are Sessions and Hatch so upset?

  • He has a distinguished record of working to protect civil rights.
  • Prof. Liu received a “well-qualified” rating from the American Bar Association.
  • He has a strong record of understanding the importance of the right to privacy, which includes the right to choose.
  • Prof. Liu criticized John Roberts’ record when President Bush nominated him to the position of chief justice in 2005. Liu wrote, “What we already know from Roberts's record is cause for concern. His legal career is studded with activities unfriendly to civil rights, abortion rights, and the environment.”

Sure enough, within two years, Roberts led the court in upholding the Bush Federal Abortion Ban, which banned a safe abortion method without any requirement to protect women’s health. In other words: Prof. Liu’s warning was right on the money.

If you agree with me that we need more judges like Prof. Liu on the federal bench in order to protect Roe v. Wade and the right to privacy for future generations, please take action today. Call on your senators to confirm Prof. Liu.

We are proud to join with the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum in supporting Prof. Liu, and we hope you will join us today.

Help us make it happen: Getting him confirmed is going to take everything we’ve got.

Photo credit: steakpinball

Nancy Keenan is the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.
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