In a previous post to this Blog, we noted the urgent need to fill vacancies on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee took a step in the right direction. Here is AFJ's statement:
Alliance for Justice applauds theSenate Judiciary Committee’s decision to advance 13 unquestionably qualifiednominees to the Senate floor, including Caitlin Halligan’s nomination to the D.C.Circuit.
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| Caitlin Halligan |
“Ms. Halligan is thepersonification of the phrase ‘tough, but fair,’” said AFJ President NanAron. “She’s aprosecutor who works to enforce the law, but at the same time, to ensure thatgovernment power is exercised fairly, and with an understanding of the impactthat power has on the lives of individuals, families, and communities.”
Halligan has overseen numerousunits within the Manhattan D.A.’s office, including the Conviction IntegrityProgram, which seeks to prevent wrongful convictions, and the Special Victims Bureau, which is composed of the SexCrimes Unit, the Child Abuse Unit, the Domestic Violence Unit, and the Elder AbuseUnit. Her work has earned her the endorsement of the NationalDistrict Attorneys Association, the National Center for Women and Policing, NewYork City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, and current and former districtattorneys including former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morganthau.
Ms. Halligan also has devoted muchof her professional life to serving disadvantaged families. Throughout hercareer, particularly during her stint in private practice, she has engaged inpro bono work and community service projects that focus on families with thegreatest needs, including by serving on the Board of Directors of the Centerfor Law and Economic Justice and by representing victims of Hurricanes Katrinaand Rita who were threatened with losing their housing assistance.
“Ms.Halligan’s nomination is historic,” Aron said. “If confirmed she will be only the sixth female judge in the120-year history of the D.C. Circuit. Weurge the full Senate to hold floor votes Ms. Halligan and the other nominees withoutdelay.”
Tomorrow on this Blog, a story that illustrates why all of these judgeships are so important.
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