Here's an excerpt from the press release issued by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and the Asian American Justice Center expressing outrage over the Senate's failure to pass a vote on Professor Liu's nomination:
"We are outraged that the Senate failed to allow Professor Liu the decency of an up-or-down vote," said Paul O. Hirose, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). "Although a bipartisan majority of the Senate was prepared to vote on Professor Liu - and, we believe, a similar majority was prepared to confirm him - Professor Liu has been denied this opportunity because of obstructionism. We are deeply troubled that an exceptional nominee who would also add much needed diversity to the federal bench is denied even a vote by the Senate."And here's a statement from U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (they're not happy about it either):
"The failure to allow Professor Liu an up-or-down vote is appalling," said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC). "Asian Pacific Americans are vastly under-represented in the federal appellate courts, where there is only one active Asian Pacific American judge. Especially during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, it is shameful that a well-qualified Asian Pacific American nominee has been denied the opportunity to serve his country as a federal judge because of extreme partisanship and ugly distortions of his record."
"Our country, our justice system and the districts served by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals were denied an outstanding judge because of political games played by the Senate. A majority of Senators recognized that Professor Goodwin Liu's stellar judicial record speaks for itself. Unfortunately, a minority decided to deny him the up-or-down vote he deserved, placing partisanship above the needs of our justice system.Professor Liu, who was initially nominated by President Obama over 400 days ago, had to endure a barrage of scrutiny about his knowledge, experience and record. On every level and measure, he has demonstrated himself as a highly qualified nominee. This is a failure. More here: Extraordinary Hypocrisy.
"There continues to be a dearth of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) on the federal bench. More than 40 percent of our nation's Asian American population lives in the area in which the 9th Circuit has jurisdiction over, yet no Asian Americans serve on the 9th Circuit bench. If given the opportunity to receive a fair vote on the Senate Floor, Professor Liu would have become the only active AAPI judge on the ninth circuit and only the sixth AAPI appellate court judge in U.S. History. The federal court must represent the diverse makeup of the American people.
"I thank Majority Leader Reid and Senator Feinstein for their leadership throughout this process, and I am grateful to President Obama for nearly doubling the number of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders serving on the Federal bench through his judicial nominations. While Goodwin Liu was denied a fair vote, this will not deter CAPAC from its commitment to promoting the confirmation of qualified judicial nominees who reflect the diverse makeup of our society."