White House Briefing: Courts Matter

Along with 150 other people from 27 different states, today I attended a briefing on the judicial vacancy crisis. Attorney General Eric Holder, White House Counsel Kathy Ruemmler, and other key Administration staff spoke about the importance of filling vacancies on the federal judiciary, the President's commitment to increasing the diversity of the federal bench, and ways to end the confirmation logjam in the Senate. The audience's passion for this issue was palpable, and there was a spirited dialogue.

The timing of this briefing couldn't be more appropriate. Later this afternoon, the Senate will vote on the last three nominations covered by the "deal" struck by Senate leadership in March. But after the confirmation of Judge Jacqueline Nguyen to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals -- the first Asian American woman to sit on a US appeals court -- and two district court judges, we are almost right back where we started with ALMOST 20 nominees ready for a floor vote.

What happens next is unclear. But today's briefing made clear that there will be dedicated advocates around the country working to make sure as many nominees as possible get yes-or-no votes before the end of the year.