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

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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Did You File Your Taxes – in 2008?

Posted by Amy K. Matsui, Senior Counsel and Director of Women and the Courts | Posted on: April 04, 2012 at 03:39 pm

It’s April and springtime, which means that it’s the final countdown to Tax Day on April 17. For those who haven’t yet filed their 2011 taxes, I offer one more item for your consideration prior to the April 17 deadline. And even those families who have already filed their tax returns for the last tax year (and hopefully claimed tax credits for which they were eligible) shouldn’t stop reading here.

April 17 isn’t just the deadline for filing your 2011 tax return without an extension. It’s the deadline for filing past tax returns – specifically, for the nearly one million individuals and families who failed to file a 2008 tax return. Why bother after three years? Well, the IRS estimates that nearly $1 billion in refunds has been just sitting in the vaults, so to speak, and that over half of those who failed to file a 2008 return may be entitled to a refund of over $600.

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Tags: IRS, Tax Credits & Tax Refunds, Tax Credits Outreach, Taxes, Family Tax Credits, Federal Tax Policy, Tax & Budget | Add new comment

First Confirmations in Wake of Judges Deal: Inching Forward

Posted by Amy K. Matsui, Senior Counsel and Director of Women and the Courts | Posted on: March 15, 2012 at 03:25 pm

As you may be aware, despite over 80 judicial vacancies (35 of which were judicial emergencies), at the beginning of this week the Senate had only confirmed 7 judges in 2012. Yesterday, the landscape changed somewhat. Precipitated by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s filing cloture petitions on 17 district court nominees, Senate leadership agreed to confirm a dozen district court nominees and two circuit court nominees by May 7. The first of those confirmations occurred today, with votes on Gina Groh, nominated to a seat on the Northern District of West Virginia, and Michael Fitzgerald, nominated to a seat on the Central District of California. Judge Groh was confirmed 95-2; Judge Fitzgerald was confirmed 91-6.

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Tags: Courts & the Judiciary, Judicial Nominations, Judicial Nominations, Judges & the Courts | 1 comment