Senate Democrats on Thursday will try to force a vote on the nomination of Goodwin Liu to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Approval of a cloture motion — which limits debate to 30 hours and allows the Senate to proceed to a final vote on a nomination or bill — requires the support of 60 senators. Liu, whom President Barack Obama nominated three times for a seat on the San Francisco-based court, has faced strong opposition from Republicans.
Republicans have held up his nomination over worries that he would move the San Francisco-based court, widely considered as the most liberal of the federal circuits, further to the left.
They also expressed concern about highly critical remarks Liu made about Samuel Alito during Alito’s Supreme Court nomination hearing in 2006. Liu later apologized for the comments. He said in a hearing this month that his remarks were “unduly harsh.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said in remarks prepared for a Senate floor speech Tuesday that Liu is a “well-qualified public servant and impressive legal scholar.”
“Goodwin Liu has dedicated his life to justice and fairness,” Reid said. “As we consider his nomination, we owe someone of his caliber those same considerations.”
