Senator Warren on how Massachusetts selects judicial nominees.

[ProSense]

Senator Warren and Senator Markey Re-Convene the Advisory Committee on Massachusetts Judicial Nominations to Consider Boston Vacancies

Dec 20, 2013

Washington, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey today announced that the Advisory Committee on Massachusetts Judicial Nominations will re-convene to consider applications for federal judicial vacancies in Boston, Massachusetts. Candidates interested in applying for a U.S. District Court nomination must submit their applications to the Advisory Committee by Friday, January 31st.

Earlier this year, Senator Elizabeth Warren announced the appointment of the Advisory Committee to solicit, interview, and comment on applications for federal District Court vacancies. The Advisory Committee is comprised of distinguished members of the Massachusetts legal community, including prominent academics and litigators, and is chaired by former District Court Judge Nancy Gertner.

Applications for Boston vacancies are reviewed by Massachusetts attorneys Pamela Berman, Jack Corrigan, Marianne LeBlanc, Willard P. Ogburn, and Walter Prince. In addition to these individuals, and Judge Gertner, Dean Camille Nelson of Suffolk University Law School, Professor Mary Sarah Bilder of Boston College Law School, Professor Andrew Kaufman of Harvard Law School, and attorney Mike Mone representing the Massachusetts Bar Association will review all applications.

Interested candidates may access an application here, and questions may be directed to Judge Gertner at [e-mail]. Applications must be completed and received by January 31st, 2014.

http://www.warren.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=307

Senator Warren Applauds Nomination of Judge Leo T. Sorokin to U.S. District Court

Judge Sorokin Recommended By Warren Advisory Committee on Massachusetts Judicial Nominations

Dec 20, 2013

BOSTON - President Obama has announced that he has nominated Chief Magistrate Judge Leo T. Sorokin to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Sorokin was recommended to Senator Elizabeth Warren as a top candidate to fill a federal judicial vacancy in Boston by the Advisory Committee on Massachusetts Judicial Nominations.

"I was very pleased to recommend Chief Magistrate Judge Leo T. Sorokin to the President for nomination to a District Court vacancy in Boston," Warren said. "His years of experience as a Magistrate Judge with the U.S. District Court and his long service as a public defender will improve the professional diversity of our courts. He is highly qualified to serve on the federal bench, and will be an outstanding District Court judge."

Sorokin has served for more than eight years as a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Massachusetts, and is currently the Chief Magistrate Judge for the District of Massachusetts. He has previously worked as a public defender and as a public and private attorney.

Earlier this year, Senator Elizabeth Warren announced the appointment of an Advisory Committee on Massachusetts judicial nominations to solicit, interview, and comment on applications for federal District Court vacancies in Springfield and Boston. The Committee is comprised of distinguished members of the Massachusetts legal community, including prominent academics and litigators, and is chaired by former District Court Judge Nancy Gertner. The Committee reviewed applications, interviewed candidates, and recommended Judge Sorokin to fill a vacancy on the District Court in Boston.

http://www.warren.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=306

[ProSense]

1. GOP senators oppose their own judicial nominees

January 17 piece:

GOP senators oppose their own judicial nominees

By Steve Benen

Senate Republicans have made no effort to hide their opposition to President Obama’s judicial nominees, abusing the confirmation process to such an unprecedented extent that the Democratic majority felt the need to execute the so-called “nuclear option.” But the problem appears to be expanding: GOP senators have begun opposing their own recommendations for the bench.

It’s quite common for U.S. senators to submit recommendations for district-court nominations to the White House, regardless of party. It’s the sort of thing that’s supposed to make the process easier.

But even this is starting to break down. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), for example, endorsed Judge William Thomas, who currently serves on the Miami-Dade Circuit, for the federal bench. Rubio’s team reviewed Thomas’ record, subjected him to a background check, and encouraged the White House to nominate him. Obama’s team agreed and sent the nomination to the Senate...however, Rubio learned that Thomas is gay, at which point the far-right senator announced his opposition to the judicial nominee he recommended. The White House was ultimately forced to give up on the qualified jurist, who was poised to become the first black openly gay man to serve as a federal judge.

This month, it happened again with a different GOP senator.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) is … refusing to advance Jennifer May-Parker, a nominee for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, though Burr previously put May-Parker forward for the post.

In a July 2009 letter to the White House, a copy of which was obtained by The Huffington Post, Burr recommended May-Parker for the slot and described her as having “the requisite qualifications to serve with distinction.”

The White House evaluated May-Parker’s background, agreed with Burr’s recommendation, and sent the nomination to the Senate. She would fill a judicial slot that’s been vacant since 2005 - the longest vacancy in the nation.

It looked encouraging, right up until Burr rejected his own recommendation.

In Rubio’s case, the reversal at least has an explanation – the far-right Floridian apparently didn’t know Judge Thomas is gay when the senator recommended him. It’s ugly and offensive to think Rubio would oppose his own pick solely on the basis of sexual orientation, but the Republican senator is a very conservative culture warrior with national ambitions. There’s at least a rationale here, however upsetting it may be.

- more -

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-senators-oppose-their-own-nominees

[ProSense]

2. Kick for

crickets.

[MuttLikeMe]

3. k&r - thanks, ProSense!

[Tx4obama]

4. The committee system in MA looks good, BUT...

... not all states use a committee to give recommendations to the Senators before the Senators give a list to the president.

And there's an article somewhere that said that in some of the 'red' states that have a committee there is pressure from the Senators to give good reviews on the folks they want and even Senators throw their weight around to get folks they approve of onto the committee - so in those states the committee is basically useless.

The whole system stinks.

[Cha]

5. I very appreciate your

research, ProSense..

So very pleased that Senator Warren was pleased with President Obama's nomination of Judge Leo T Sorokin.

I see his Confirmation is Pending..

Nomination to district court[edit]

On December 19, 2013, President Obama nominated Sorokin to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, to the seat vacated by Judge Joseph L. Tauro, who took senior status on September 26, 2013. His nomination is currently pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_T._Sorokin

[ProSense]

6. Thanks. This is from the AFJ:

Tell your Senators: Please vote for all 29 pending judicial nominees NOW

On January 16 the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance 29 judicial nominations to the Senate floor (You can see the full list here). Nineteen of the nominees were approved by unopposed voice vote for federal district court judgeships. It wasn’t that long ago that confirmation of such nominees by the full Senate was routine—and took less than 60 seconds.

But that was before Senate Republicans decided that undermining President Obama for political gain was more important than a well-functioning judiciary. Even now, with changes in Senate rules, Republicans can stall the process for days, perhaps weeks, dragging out the time to vote on each nominee.

Fifteen of these judgeships have been vacant for more than a year; eight of the vacancies are judicial emergencies. Tell your Senators Americans should not have to wait another day for justice. Tell them you want all 29 nominees confirmed, and confirmed NOW.

<...>

http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6539/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=16310

PENDING JUDICIAL NOMINEES
http://www.afj.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Pending-Judicial-Nominees-1.17.14.pdf

[Cha]

7. Thank you!