Federal Courts in Crisis
April 17, 2012, 9:00am ET - 10:30am ET
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About This Event
Today, more than 160 million Americans – over half of the U.S. population – live in a community with a federal courtroom vacancy. That means that there simply are not enough judges on the bench to hear the cases that are piling up. The third branch of government is not functioning because our nation’s courts – where Americans vindicate their most cherished constitutional rights – do not have a full complement of judges on the bench. At the same time, it’s clear that no matter the issue – health care, immigration, environment, marriage equality, consumer protection – the judiciary will continue to play an increasingly important role in the lives of all Americans as well as in the success of the progressive legislative agenda.
Please join the Center for American Progress Action Fund and the Committee for a Fair Judiciary for a discussion on the process and politics of judicial confirmations, the impact of the judicial vacancies crisis, and solutions for 2012 and beyond.
Opening Remarks:
Andrew Blotky, Director of Legal Progress, Center for American Progress Action Fund
Introduction:
Neera Tanden, President of the Center for American Progress, Counselor to the Center for American Progress Action Fund
Keynote:
The Honorable Senator Al Franken (D-MN), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee
Distinguished Panelists:
Sammie Moshenberg, Director of Washington Operations, National Council of Jewish Women
Jeremy Paris, Chief Counsel for Nominations and Oversight, U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Majority Staff
Robert Raben, Chairman, Fair Judiciary Committee
Moderator:
Thomas C. Goldstein, publisher, SCOTUSblog, Supreme Court advocate and partner, Goldstein and Russell
A light breakfast will be served at 8:30 am.
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Location
Center for American Progress Action Fund
1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor
Washington, DC20005
Nearest Metro: Blue/Orange Line to McPherson Square or Red Line to Metro Center
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