I know that you’re well aware of the historic obstruction we’ve seen from the GOP on issues ranging from the budget to President Obama’s ability to negotiate treaties to an increase in the federal minimum wage.
But one area that doesn’t get enough attention is the unprecedented obstruction of President Obama’s cabinet nominees and federal judges.
Last week, after 166 days of unnecessary delays from the Senate GOP, the unquestionably well-qualified Loretta Lynch was FINALLY confirmed as the new Attorney General.
This is great news, but we also have a real problem with the same kind of obstruction of federal judicial nominees. It’s a crisis, in fact. We’re dealing with more vacancies and longer waits for nominees than we have at any time in history.
TELL SENATOR TOOMEY TO STOP THE OBSTRUCTION!
Now, you may wonder why this is something that should matter to you. Well, it’s pretty simple: this crisis affects all citizens because it creates a backlog of cases that undermines our system of justice and makes it difficult for most Americans to have their case heard in a timely manner. All the Senate has to do to fill these vacancies is schedule hearings and votes on the qualified nominees waiting for confirmation. But they refuse to do so.
One very important vacancy on the federal bench is right here in Pennsylvania. With your help, we can make a difference in stopping the obstruction of another qualified nominee for the federal bench.
Our nation’s federal courts make rulings on virtually every issue that is important to Americans -- from healthcare to immigration to voting rights to marriage equality. Vacancies like this need to be filled ASAP, as important cases are being held up.
But instead, the Senate Judiciary Committee is dragging its feet for no good reason.
Back in November, Judge Felipe Restrepo was nominated to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals on the bipartisan recommendation of our PA senators. Judge Restrepo is another incredibly well-qualified nominee with a background as a public defender and son of first-generation Americans. He is exactly the kind of person we should want as a judge on the federal bench.
However, in the six-plus months since his recommendation, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has still not scheduled a hearing for Judge Restrepo. And Senator Toomey could change that, if he were so inclined to push harder to fill the vacancy.
Empty judgeships mean justice delayed is justice denied for people and businesses in Pennsylvania.
Without hearing from us, however, Senator Toomey has no reason to aggressively pursue a hearing for Judge Restrepo.Tell Senator Toomey that it’s time for a hearing for Judge Restrepo. As one of our U.S. Senators, he is tasked with moving through federal judges when there are vacancies here in Pennsylvania. Tell him it’s time to do his job by moving the hearing forward and ensuring our courts are able to hear cases in a timely and fair manner.