The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association has an action alert outlining why you should support Goodwin Liu, and the steps you (that's right, you!) can take to help make it happen:
To call the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and support Professor Liu, follow these steps:More information here. As we've noted before, President Obama has nominated nine Asian Pacific Americans, surpassing the total number of active Asian Pacific American judges already serving on the federal bench at the time he became President. That's pretty awesome. This is your chance to help make sure Goodwin Liu is confirmed. Every little bit helps!
Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
When the operator at the switchboard picks up, let them know that you would like to be connected to the office of one of the Senate Judiciary Committee members. Calls to home state senators, states where you have a business connection, and Republican Senators may be particularly helpful. For a complete list of members, click here.
When a staffer at the Senator’s office picks up, politely introduce yourself and say that you would like the Senator to confirm Goodwin Liu to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and that his confirmation is important to the Asian Pacific American community. The staffer may ask you for your address or zip code to confirm the state in which you reside. The staffer will make a note of your call and your support of Professor Liu.
Who is Goodwin Liu?
Goodwin Liu is the Associate Dean and Professor of Law at UC Berkeley School of Law and is a recognized scholar on educational and constitutional law. President Barack Obama nominated Goodwin to serve as a federal appeals court judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The son of Taiwanese immigrants, Professor Liu has a wide range of experiences that make him well-qualified to be a judge. He is a distinguished graduate of Stanford University, Oxford University, and Yale Law School, a Rhodes Scholar, and a former Supreme Court clerk. He has also worked as a corporate litigator and as a key education policy advisor for the Corporation for National Services (AmeriCorps) and the U.S. Department of Education. In 2003, Professor Liu returned to his home state of California to join the faculty of UC Berkeley School of Law and quickly earned tenure and promotion to Associate Dean in five years. Professor Liu has endorsements from across the political spectrum, including from law enforcement, professors, educators, prosecutors, and judges.
Why should you support Goodwin Liu?
The confirmation of Professor Liu would help promote diversity in the federal judiciary, where Asian Pacific Americans are significantly underrepresented.
Prior to the recent confirmation of Judge Denny Chin to the Second Circuit, there were no Asian Pacific Americans among about 175 active federal appellate judges.
Only five Asian Pacific Americans have served as federal appellate court judges.
Out of approximately 875 federal judgeships, only 10 are Asian Pacific Americans.
Professor Liu is the second APA federal appellate court nominee by President Obama.
