Judicial Nominations and Habeas Corpus Update (Alliance for Justice)

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Fifth Circuit Court Of Appeals Nominee Leslie Southwick:

June 21, the Senate Judiciary Committee again postponed the vote on Fifth Circuit nominee Judge Leslie Southwick at the request of committee Republicans, who are feverishly trying to garner enough votes to report Judge Southwick favorably out of the committee. Over three dozen groups have expressed formal opposition to Judge Southwick's confirmation, including the NAACP, the AFL-CIO, HRC, MALDEF, SEIU, and AFJ. While on the Mississippi Court of Appeals, Judge Southwick had a record of overwhelmingly supporting business interests over the rights of workers or injured parties, and he signed onto opinions that called into question his commitment to equal justice under law for racial minorities and the gay and lesbian community.

Restoration of Habeas Corpus:

June 22, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) introduced a bill that would restore the fundamental right of habeas corpus by repealing the habeas-stripping provisions of the Military Commissions Act of 2006. The House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties will hold a hearing next Tuesday on the need to restore habeas, and the Skelton/Conyers bill will be scheduled for markup shortly thereafter. A similar bill cosponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) was reported favorably out of the Judiciary Committee earlier this month and is now headed to the Senate floor.

Next Tuesday, June 26, AFJ will be a co-sponsor of the "Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice" rally in Washington, DC, as we call on Congress to fix the Military Commissions Act and restore the rule of law. If you have not done so already, please sign the petition on www.defendhabeas.org.

Thanks for all your support, we will keep you apprised of developments.

http://www.afj.org