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Stop the Unnecessary Block and Confirm Marisa Demeo Now

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This post was submitted by Jean Qiao, WCF Communications Fellow

The first two months of 2010 has not been a smooth ride for Democrats. Martha Coakley’s defeat in Massachusetts’ special election last month left them without the crucial 60th majority vote, which opens the door for Republican filibusters. And now another one of President Obama’s judicial nominees is facing possibly the longest delay in her confirmation.

Marisa Demeo, an openly gay Latina woman, was nominated last March to serve on the D.C. Superior Court. While judges on this Court must be confirmed by the Senate before serving, most judges are confirmed without trouble and hassle.

What’s the problem, then? Demeo’s strong record of legal advocacy on Hispanic and LGBT issues is causing conservatives to block her confirmation. Demeo has previously worked as assistant U.S. Attorney in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Department as well as a former lobbyist for Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF). Horrors.

Her confirmation is being blocked and continually delayed thanks to socially conservative Senators, in particular, Sen, Jim DeMint (R-SC), who also opposed Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination last summer. His claim? Demeo’s “leftist activism” raised concerns about her ability to be objective as a judge.

Sen. DeMint, I urge you to try and get your thoughts straight before you contradict yourself. In a 2005 statement, DeMint said:

“One of my goals as a Senator is to confirm highly qualified judges by ensuring timely up-or-down votes for all nominees no matter who is President, no matter which party is in the majority. Senators were elected to advise and consent, not to grand stand or obstruct”.

Interesting that you were this “neutral” about judicial nominees during the Bush administration and now all of a sudden you’re shamelessly blocking the confirmation of a well-qualified Judge. Oh wait…liberal, Hispanic, and openly gay Judge. So wouldn’t this mean Sen. DeMint is grand standing or obstructing a qualified judge? Oh the hypocrisy.

The prolonged delay of Demeo is unnecessary and un-called for. Demeo’s strong record and accomplishments make her an excellent addition to the bench of the D.C. Superior Court. This kind of anti-woman, anti-progressive action must not be tolerated—especially with President Obama in the White House. When will we stop kowtowing to socially conservative Congress members who want to roll back the clock on the rights of Americans?


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