Senate Blocks Confirmation of Court Nominee Liu

[Octafish]

Source: Bloomberg

By Laura Litvan - May 19, 2011 2:51 PM ET

The U.S. Senate blocked the nomination of Goodwin Liu to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, the first rejection of one of President Barack Obama’s judicial choices.

With 60 votes needed to end debate on the University of California law professor’s nomination, the largely party-line tally was 52 in favor of proceeding to a confirmation vote, 43 against. Joining 51 Democrats voting to end debate was Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, while 42 Republicans and Senator Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat, opposed the motion. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah voted “present.”

The procedural vote came after more than a year of delays in the confirmation process stemming from Republican opposition to Liu’s selection.

Opponents said Liu, 40, lacks necessary courtroom experience and has activist judicial views reflected in writings and speeches supporting expanded welfare rights, gay marriage and privacy rights. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said Liu as a judge might favor contemporary ideas over the Constitution’s legal standards.



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-19/senate-blocks-confirmation-of-court-nominee-liu-1-.html

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One would think that a Democratic Administration and a Democratic Senate could get a judge onto the bench.