With no prospects that Senate Republicans would allow him to take a seat on the federal bench, Goodwin Liu on Wednesday withdrew his nomination to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
"My family and I have decided that it is time for us to regain the ability to make plans for the future," Liu wrote in a letter to President Barack Obama.
All but one Senate Republican refused to cut off debate on the University of California, Berkeley, law professor's nomination last week. Several described him as a liberal activist who would influence the courts for years. Republicans also criticized his lack of experience because he's never been a judge.
Obama first nominated Liu in February 2010. He would have become the second Asian American in the federal judiciary and the only one in the 9th Circuit, which spans states holding 40 percent of the country's Asian American population.
In his withdrawal letter, Liu cited the 9th Circuit Court's desperate need for judges as another reason for dropping his bid.
"It is now clear that continuing my nomination will not address that need any time soon," Liu wrote.
To read the complete article, visit www.sacbee.com.
Comments