Confirmation of Susan Neilson

Recipient: U.S. Senate

Dear Senator:

On behalf of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the nation’s oldest, largest, and most diverse civil and human rights coalition with more than 180 national organizations, we urge you to vote against the confirmation of Susan Neilson to the United States Court of Appeal for the Sixth Circuit.

We are troubled that the Judiciary Committee plans to proceed with the consideration of this nominee despite the continued objections of both home-state Senators. Under pre-2001 Judiciary Committee practice, the continued objection of even one home-state Senator would have prevented further processing of the nominations. For the sake of restoring some bipartisanship to the nominations process, this nomination should not go forward until the home-state Senators’ objections are fairly resolved.

In addition, by proceeding with this nomination, the Judiciary Committee will violate another long-standing Committee practice. The Committee has for many years followed the so-called Thurmond rule, under which only non-controversial nominees are processed and approved during a presidential election year, particularly this late. At this point, after both party conventions have concluded and less than 60 days prior to the general election, the nomination of Susan Neilson clearly falls under that rule.

For these reasons, we strongly urge you to vote against Judge Neilson’s confirmation. If you have any questions, or would like additional information, please contact Julie Fernandes, LCCR Senior Policy Analyst, at 202/263-2856 or Nancy Zirkin, Deputy Director, at 202/263-2880.


Sincerely,

Wade Henderson
Executive Director

Nancy Zirkin
Deputy Director