Senate Needs to Move Promptly on Three Nominees to D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

(Washington, D.C.) This morning, from the Rose Garden of the White House, President Barack Obama announced the nomination of Patricia A. Millet, Cornelia “Nina” Pillard, and Robert L. Wilkins to fill the three vacancies on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. All three individuals are veteran appellate litigators with outstanding legal credentials who command great respect in the legal community.   

The following statement is by Marcia D. Greenberger, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center:

“I was delighted to be present when President Obama announced the nominations in the Rose Garden this morning.  The National Women’s Law Center commends President Obama for nominating three individuals with exceptional legal backgrounds to fill the three vacancies on the D.C. Circuit.  This important court sorely needs judges confirmed to all three seats, one of which has been vacant since 2005.

“I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work directly with one of the nominees, Georgetown University Law Center Professor Nina Pillard, over many years.  For example, she played a key role in two watershed Supreme Court cases for women’s rights in which the Center also participated: United States v. Virginia (1996) and Nevada Department of Human Resources v. Hibbs (2003).

“In United States v. Virginia, Pillard wrote the brief leading to the Supreme Court’s ruling, 7-1, that the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution required the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) to open its doors to women.  More broadly, this case protects women’s opportunities in education and other pursuits from unfair constraints based on gender stereotypes.  Similarly, in Nevada v. Hibbs, Pillard secured a 6-3 ruling by the Supreme Court that gave the critically important Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) broad application and meaningful protections to workers around the country.

“The Center calls upon the Senate to promptly consider the nominees to the three vacancies on the D.C. Circuit and to give each an up or down vote.  Filling all three vacancies will permit this important court to function at full capacity, so that it can fulfill its duties to all those across the nation who rely on this court for justice.”

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