Obstruction of Adalberto Jordán: “Another Naked Example of Senators Abusing Their Power”

Washington, D.C. – Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued this statement following the confirmation of Judge Adalberto José Jordán with a 94-5 vote after126 days of blind obstruction:

“Today, we’ve witnessed another naked example of senators abusing their power at the expense of our justice system. 

The courts had designated this seat as a priority to be filled, the nominee had bipartisan support from his two home state senators, he served with distinction as a district court judge for 13 years, and 94 senators approved of him. Yet it still took 126 days of political wrangling and positioning to confirm him. The very few senators who stood in the way of his confirmation should be ashamed of themselves.

Unfortunately, this show of naked obstructionism has become the rule, rather than the exception in this Senate. This rule apparently applies even to district court nominees, given that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had to file cloture today to get a vote on Jesse Furman, a highly qualified nominee from New York. Consensus nominees such as Furman and Jordán shouldn’t be put through the political wringer before being allowed to serve their country as part of the judicial branch. It’s time to end this ridiculous dysfunction.”

Nancy Zirkin is executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.