(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Vanita Gupta, president, and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after the Senate voted, on a party-line basis, to limit debate on the nomination of Eric Miller to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:
“Advancing Eric Miller’s nomination is yet another example of Senate Republicans’ agenda to pack the federal courts with right-wing ideologues. This radical agenda is only made possible by their further rigging the system to eliminate the Senate’s institutional role in serving as an independent check. If confirmed, Miller would be the first judge placed on the federal bench over the objection of both home state senators. This alone should give all senators a strong, institutional reason for opposing his confirmation.
“Miller’s demonstrated hostility toward tribal rights indicates how his confirmation would endanger the protection of our civil and human rights. For the sake of preserving our federal judiciary’s impartiality and protecting our fundamental rights, all senators must reject his confirmation.”
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.
