Amy K. Matsui, Senior Counsel and Director of Women and the Courts

Amy K. Matsui is Senior Counsel and Director of Women and the Courts at the National Women’s Law Center. She works on economic issues affecting low- and moderate-income women and families, with special emphasis on federal and state tax policy and women’s retirement security. Her work with retirement savings policy and federal and state tax credits for working families comprises policy analysis, federal advocacy, and public education and outreach. She also directs the Center's advocacy efforts around federal judicial nominations and diversity in the federal judiciary. Ms. Matsui has worked at the Center since 2002. Prior to joining the Center, Ms. Matsui practiced commercial law in the private sector. She clerked for the Honorable Carolyn Dineen King, then-Chief Judge of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, in 2000. She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, and Stanford Law School.

Expert in: Tax Credits Outreach, Judicial Nominations, Family Tax Credits, Social Security, Supreme Court, Judges & the Courts, Social Security & Retirement
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My Take

White House Briefing: Courts Matter

Posted by Amy K. Matsui, Senior Counsel and Director of Women and the Courts | Posted on: May 07, 2012 at 03:51 pm

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.

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Judicial Nominations Word Problems

Posted by Amy K. Matsui, Senior Counsel and Director of Women and the Courts | Posted on: April 26, 2012 at 02:10 pm

Today, the Senate confirmed two judges to district courts in Texas, Gregg Costa to the Southern District and David Guaderrama to the Western District. These individuals were nominated last September, ready for a Senate vote last December, and were confirmed by votes of 97-2 – hardly nominees that warranted nearly five months of delay, especially considering that one of the nominations was designated a judicial emergency. Especially especially considering that these nominees had the support of their home-state Republican Senators. Not a surprise, given the levels of obstruction by a determined minority in the Senate in recent years, but frustrating all the same.

Under the terms of a deal worked out last month by Senate leadership, two more district court nominees and one circuit court nominee will receive a vote on May 7. And that is where the March deal ends – unfortunately with a lot of ground left to cover. How much ground? I have spent a few evenings this week lightly assisting my third-grade daughter with her math homework, so the following is inspired by our running conversation:

There are 34 individuals nominated to vacancies on federal courts. 22 of them are ready for a Senate vote (extra credit: six of them are women), and at least eight or nine more will be ready for votes by the end of June. The Senate has 11 weeks when it will be in session before it takes its long break in August.  Three nominees will get votes on May 7. How many judges would the Senate have to schedule votes on per week in order to clear this backlog by August?

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Judges Confirmed

Posted by Amy K. Matsui, Senior Counsel and Director of Women and the Courts | Posted on: April 23, 2012 at 03:05 pm

Last week, the Senate confirmed Stephanie Thacker to a West Virginia seat on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Nominated last September and waiting for a floor vote since last November, Judge Thacker became the fourth active woman judge currently sitting on this court, bringing the total percentage of female judges on the Fourth Circuit to 27%. She was only the second appellate court judge confirmed in 2012. Later today, the Senate will confirm Brian Wimes, who has also been waiting for a vote since last year, to a district court seat in Missouri.

There will be votes on four more district court judges and one circuit court judge by May 7, under the terms of the deal struck by Senate leadership back in March. And then? Contact your Senators and make sure that the Senate knows there's more work to be done on judges.

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In Case You Missed It: The Four Women of the Supreme Court

Posted by Amy K. Matsui, Senior Counsel and Director of Women and the Courts | Posted on: April 13, 2012 at 01:41 pm

Yesterday’s Blog of Legal Times described a panel discussion, featuring the three current female Supreme Court Justices and retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, that was held on Wednesday evening.

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Last-Minute Tax Filers: YouTube Videos Available from IRS

Posted by Amy K. Matsui, Senior Counsel and Director of Women and the Courts | Posted on: April 11, 2012 at 11:11 am

Usually YouTube is not the procrastinators' friend, but as we approach the April 17 tax filing deadline, last-minute filers may want to check out the IRS' YouTube videos to assist them in their tax preparation. For last-minute tax tips, information about extensions of time or tax payment options, and tracking your refund, visit the IRS YouTube Channels in English, Spanish and American Sign Language.

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