For years, Elizabeth Warren has been a lonely voice in the Senate on the need to pick people with all kinds of legal backgrounds -- not just corporate lawyers and prosecutors -- to be lifetime federal judges.
The times are finally catching up with her. huffpost.com/entry/elizabet…
The times are finally catching up with her. huffpost.com/entry/elizabet…
For all the historic court appointments Obama made, he didn't contribute much to professional diversity.
Warren called him out over it 2014, saying the courts badly needed more public defenders and civil rights attys on them.
She's got a new ally on this now: Joe Biden.
Warren called him out over it 2014, saying the courts badly needed more public defenders and civil rights attys on them.
She's got a new ally on this now: Joe Biden.
Biden's WH counsel wrote to Dem senators in Dec urging them to recommend court picks to the White House ASAP, and emphasizing Biden wants "public defenders, civil rights and legal aid attorneys, and those who represent Americans in every walk of life.”
Music to Warren's ears.
Music to Warren's ears.
The House held a hearing on this just yesterday. Judiciary Cmte chairman Jerrold Nadler said the federal judiciary today "looks uncomfortably similar" vs 100 years ago.
"Overwhelmingly male, white, former prosecutors or corporate lawyers who went to a handful of law schools.”
"Overwhelmingly male, white, former prosecutors or corporate lawyers who went to a handful of law schools.”
Progressive judicial advocacy groups are ready to make a big push on this, too.
Last week, 30 progressive groups wrote to Dem senators urging them to publicly commit to recommending public defenders + civil rights lawyers to Biden when judicial vacancies occur in their states.
Last week, 30 progressive groups wrote to Dem senators urging them to publicly commit to recommending public defenders + civil rights lawyers to Biden when judicial vacancies occur in their states.
I ran into Warren in a Senate hallway as she was hurrying to a meeting. Despite her aide’s best efforts to keep her on schedule, Warren stopped in her tracks and talked for several minutes when I asked if professional diversity in federal judges is still her jam.
"Oh yes!"
"Oh yes!"
Why does this matter?
As Warren argues, if you want the nation’s courts to reflect the people they serve, you need judges familiar with the legal needs of everyday people living on low incomes or otherwise marginalized.
Corporate attys from Harvard... not always the best fit.
As Warren argues, if you want the nation’s courts to reflect the people they serve, you need judges familiar with the legal needs of everyday people living on low incomes or otherwise marginalized.
Corporate attys from Harvard... not always the best fit.
This is the window for Warren/progressives to make their case to Biden to pick people with all kinds of legal BGs to be lifetime federal judges.
He's got 2 years, at a minimum, to push through the judges he wants while Dems hold the Senate.
He hasn't nominated anyone yet.
He's got 2 years, at a minimum, to push through the judges he wants while Dems hold the Senate.
He hasn't nominated anyone yet.
There's a key role for senators to play now, too, says Warren: Letting legal professionals in their states know they are open to recommending them for judgeships.
“People like labor lawyers and consumer lawyers ... letting them know they should apply.” huffpost.com/entry/elizabet…
“People like labor lawyers and consumer lawyers ... letting them know they should apply.” huffpost.com/entry/elizabet…
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