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PROPERTY RIGHTS: Trump pick for 'rather esoteric court' fuels political storm (Greenwire, 06/21/17)
Amanda Reilly: Glenn Sugameli, an environmental attorney who founded the Judging the Environment project, said that the vagaries of takings law and lack of Supreme Court direction on key issues leave room for creativity in lawsuits brought before the claims court. "A creative judge, an activist judge, can basically come up with a ruling which may ultimately be reversed on appeal but is not on its face clearly absurd in a way that would prevent it from being issued in the first place," he said.... Sugameli acknowledged that, as with other appeals courts around the country, the Federal Circuit "balances" out rulings by the Court of Federal Claims. In the meantime, though, he said that "the law can be muddled, unjustifiable confusion can be introduced." He added, "A lot of state courts from around the country, when they deal with a question of whether a state or local safeguard is a taking of private property, they will look for guidance to decisions from the Court of Federal Claims and the Federal Circuit."

Little Rock native gets rough ride at judicial confirmation hearing UPDATE (Arkansas Times, 06/14/17)
Max Brantley: Lots more provided by Glenn Sugamelli, senior attorney for Judging the Environment.... Lot of links to troubling background on Bush here at Judging the Environment.... Much more on Schiff here. [link to Judging the Environment]

Panel to vet nominee behind key takings, species cases (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 06/12/17)
Amanda Reilly: Glenn Sugameli, an environmental attorney who founded and heads the Judging the Environment project, said he was concerned with Schiff's work at PLF. The group pushes "a very extreme unjustifiable version that only looks at the potential development of property and really ignores or fails to consider the impact that that would have on neighboring property and the public and the environment at large," Sugameli said.

THE COMING BATTLE OVER THE FILIBUSTER'S BLUE-HUED COUSIN (Ozy, 04/04/17)
Daniel Malloy: “It’s an important prerogative that each home-state senator, regardless of the president, really clings to, because it gives them control,” says Glenn Sugameli, an environmental attorney in Washington who tracks judicial nominations.

White House no longer wants ABA evaluations for judicial spots (Indiana Lawyer, 04/03/17)
Marilyn Odendahl: But the reports provided to the Senate committee will come after the nominee has been introduced to the public. Glenn Sugameli, director of the Judging the Environment Project which monitors federal judicial nominations, said in the past, some individuals being considered for a federal judgeship were rejected after the ABA raised concerns about their qualifications or temperament. This allowed the White House to avoid a potentially disastrous nominee altogether.... Sugameli pointed to what he called the irony that the administration announced it will forego the ABA evaluations during the time when it and Senate Republicans are touting the high rating given to Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch. Indeed Judiciary chair Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, boasted after the ABA gave Gorsuch a unanimously well qualified rating. “Why is it relevant for this nomination but not for others?” Sugameli asked of the ABA evaluations.

SUPREME COURT: Dems likely to probe Gorsuch environmental views this week (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 03/20/17)
Amanda Reilly: "These issues will come up in various contexts," said Glenn Sugameli, an environmental attorney who tracks judicial appointments for the website Judging the Environment.... Democratic senators may raise concerns that Gorsuch's views on Chevron — which differ from Scalia's defense of the doctrine — may translate to second-guessing agency expertise or attempting to reverse settled law (E&E Daily, Feb. 2). "That issue will come up, and that's a very important issue for environmental and a whole range of laws," Sugameli said.

Reactions to the Gorsuch nomination (SCOTUSBlog, 02/06/17)
Andrew Hamm: Judging the Environment links to more reactions from senators.[link]

Trump Could Fill 114 Vacant Federal Judge Positions: That's a big problem for the future of environmental regulations. (onEarth, 01/31/17)
John Upton: Trump is a foe of environmental regulations who is working quickly to undo rules, programs, and agreements backed by President Obama to slow global warming. By appointing federal judges with similar views, Trump could make it harder for future administrations to secure courtroom approvals for new climate rules for decades to come. “It’s a very serious problem,” said Glenn Sugameli, an attorney for the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife who tracks federal judge vacancies and nominations. “It does create more opportunities for bad judges to get confirmed, for bad decisions to be issued, and for courts to tilt.”

Message To Dems: Block Neil Gorsuch Nomination 'Using All Available Means' President Trump's pick for U.S. Supreme Court called 'extreme' and 'disastrous' (Common Dreams, 01/31/17)
Lauren McCauley: as Climate Central's John Upton pointed out on Monday, "A broad refusal by Senate Republicans to approve judicial nominees during the last two years of Obama's second term means Trump could move quickly to fill 114 vacant federal judge positions. U.S. Courts data shows that to be the most vacancies in at least 20 years." Glenn Sugameli, an attorney for the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife, told Upton that this creates "more opportunities for bad judges to get confirmed, for bad decisions to be issued, and for courts to tilt."

JUSTICE FOR ALL? This is Trump’s chance to build an anti-environment federal judiciary (Grist, 01/30/17)
John Upton: By appointing federal judges with similar views, Trump could make it harder for future administrations to secure courtroom approvals for new climate rules for decades to come. “It’s a very serious problem,” said Glenn Sugameli, an attorney for the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife who tracks federal judge vacancies and nominations. “It does create more opportunities for bad judges to get confirmed, for bad decisions to be issued, and for courts to tilt.”

Record Judge Vacancies Could See Trump Recast Courts (Climate Central, 01/27/17)
John Upton: By appointing federal judges with similar views, Trump could make it harder for future administrations to secure courtroom approvals for new climate rules for decades to come. “It’s a very serious problem,” said Glenn Sugameli, an attorney for the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife who tracks federal judge vacancies and nominations. “It does create more opportunities for bad judges to get confirmed, for bad decisions to be issued, and for courts to tilt.”

UPDATE: Will Colorado Springs' mayor be tapped for federal judgeship? (Colorado Springs Independent, 01/06/17)
PAM ZUBECK: Glenn Sugameli, of Washington, D.C., who's headed the Judging the Environment judicial nominations project since 2001, set us straight on openings on the federal bench. He noted the openings referred to in the 10th Circuit are on district court benches, not the appeals court: "... they are all on the district courts within the Circuit- including Judge Blackburn's seat in Colorado- there are no vacancies on the U.S, Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit itself (unlike the four on the 9th circuit indicated by CCA for Circuit Court of Appeals). More importantly, Senators Bennet and Gardner jointly recommended and strongly pushed for action on a nominee. There is every reason why they should continue to do so given the caseload and need to move quickly to fill this seat that they both cited, and the continuing need for both home-state senators to approve any hearing (scroll down). See these press releases: Sens. Bennet, Gardner Urge Judiciary Committee to Consider Regina Rodriguez Nomination: President Nominated Rodriguez in April Following Bennet, Gardner Recommendations (Republican - Colorado) 07/12/16 Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner today urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to work swiftly to consider the nomination of Regina Rodriguez to fill the vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The Colorado senators wrote to Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy urging them to schedule a hearing and a vote on confirmation as soon as possible.... "Given the court's caseload, it's crucial that the Judiciary Committee move quickly and thoroughly to consider this nomination," Bennet said. "Regina Rodriguez is eminently qualified to serve on the District Court. We're confident that her impressive background in both the public and private sectors will serve her well on the federal bench." "Regina Rodriguez has a long record of service to Colorado," said Gardner. "She is immensely qualified to serve on the federal bench, and I'm certain that her broad experience will allow her to better serve Coloradans in a new capacity as a judge on the U.S. District Court for Colorado.""

Indiana’s judicial nominees headed toward disappointment (Indiana Lawyer, 12/28/16)
Marilyn Odendahl: Attorney Glenn Sugameli asserts there is no reason for the Senate to delay confirmations for the nominees waiting for a floor vote. These individuals have already cleared many of the hurdles to a final vote, including being vetted by the FBI and the American Bar Association and getting the approval of the judiciary committee. Sugameli is the founder of Judging the Environment, a nonprofit judicial watchdog organization. He does not see any reason that Donnelly and Young could not push forward Ong’s nomination. Also, he said, it is conceivable that Young could support Selby, a partner at Ice Miller LLP in Indianapolis, for the Chicago-based court. Overall, the federal courts have 105 vacancies with 38 having been designated a judicial emergency, including the vacancy in the District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The empty seats coupled with some Republican senators, namely from Idaho and Texas, clamoring for their nominees to be confirmed, could prompt the Senate could act. “I think there’s going to be pressure on the new Senate to show they can do their job,” Sugameli said, noting “a pretty easy” accomplishment would be to confirm the pending nominees.

Trump victory is the end of the line for Obama judicial nominees (USA Today, 11/11/16)
Michael Collins: Even with a new administration coming in next year, there’s still time for some of the nominees to be confirmed, said Glenn Sugameli, founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations. “If both Tennessee senators want Stanton confirmed this year, as they have consistently urged, they should be able to obtain a vote,” Sugameli said. “There is no reason to force yet another delay for a renomination.”

Trump's Federal Judges in Pa. May Break With Centrist Tradition (Legal Intelligencer, 11/10/16)
P.J. D'Annunzio: "The real leverage the senators have is the blue slip," Tobias said. "You get embroiled in these long stalemates with the home senators, and there's just no incentive for that. The president would be crazy to fight that." And the blue slip tradition is one that is not likely be abandoned by the Senate, according to Glenn Sugameli, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer who tracks judicial vacancies. "It's a matter of senatorial power and senators do not want to give up power," Sugameli said. He added that without the senators' blue slips, Trump's nominees would go nowhere. The only reason a president would make a nomination without expecting senatorial support would be to make a point, say over judicial vacancies, Sugameli said.

Edward Stanton unlikely to be confirmed as federal judge (Tennessean, 11/10/16)
Michael Collins: Even with a new administration coming in next year, there’s still time for Stanton to be confirmed, said Glenn Sugameli, founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations “If both Tennessee senators want Stanton confirmed this year, as they have consistently urged, they should be able to obtain a vote,” Sugameli said. “There is no reason to force yet another delay for a renomination.”

Ong still has path to Southern District seat (Indiana Lawyer, 11/09/16)
Marilyn Odendahl: Glenn Sugameli, attorney and founder of the nonprofit judicial watchdog group, Judging the Environment, said Ong still could get a confirmation vote before the end of the year but the prospects for Selby are now much dimmer. Selby’s nomination has been hindered by Coats’ refusal to sign his blue slip in support. Instead the Senator has called for the formation of a nominating commission to recommend potential candidates because the vacancy on the 7th Circuit has not been deemed an emergency. The vacancy in the Southern Indiana District, created when Judge Sarah Evans Barker took senior status in June 2014, has been designated a judicial emergency because of the high caseload. In applauding Ong’s nomination, Coats has cited the emergency as the key reason for his support. “If Coats really wants Ong, I think he certainly could get it done,” Sugameli said, “and I think he should get it done because of the strong need to fill the judicial emergency.”

Political Deadlock Leaves 'Negative Legacy' on Pennsylvania Courts (Legal Intelligencer, 11/01/16)
P.J. D'Annunzio: That judicial deadlock has morphed into a legacy of its own, according to Glenn Sugameli, a Washington, D.C., attorney who tracks judicial vacancies. "The negative legacy of the Obama years has been this mindless, destructive, across-the-board obstruction of nominees who have been recommended by even Republican senators," Sugameli said.... Sugameli called Haywood's situation another example of obstructionism and criticized Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's defense that Obama has nominated more judges during his administration than former President George W. Bush did in his. That's because there have been more vacancies in the last eight years, Sugameli said. "There's no suggestion in the Constitution that you do a tit-for-tat, and you decide to cripple the third branch of government because there are more vacancies than before," Sugameli said.

Friday round-up (SCOTUSBlog, 10/14/16)
Edith Roberts, Editor: • At The Progressive Pulse, Melissa Boughton reports that “there have been 638 editorials written by more than 300 editorial boards in every U.S. state urging the Senate to hold hearings on President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland.” [Judging the Environment's Editorial compilation]

More than 300 editorial boards across the nation have called for hearings on Obama’s Supreme Court nomination (Progressive Pulse [NC], 10/13/16)
Melissa Boughton: "There have been 638 editorials written by more than 300 editorial boards in every U.S. state urging the Senate to hold hearings on President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland. Veteran D.C. court watcher and environmental policy advocate Glenn Sugameli released a state-by-state compilation of excerpts and links to the editorials. Of the editorial boards included in calls for the Senate to act, 60 endorsed a Republican for President in 2008, 2012 or both.... Twenty-one of the editorials Sugameli provides links to are from North Carolina."

Law professor calls for Selby to be confirmed to 7th Circuit (Indiana Lawyer, 10/07/16)
Marilyn Odendahl: "Glenn Sugameli, attorney and founder of the group Judging the Environment, believes the nominees for the circuit courts who have passed through the committee could still get a vote by the full Senate before the end of the year.... Sugameli said Schott could be a floor vote after the presidential election. But he is more confident that Winfield Ong will be confirmed for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Ong was nominated in January 2016 to fill the seat of Judge Sarah Evans Barker, who took senior status in June 2014. The judiciary committee unanimously approved Ong’s nomination in June 2016. Coats is supporting Ong’s nomination because the Southern District vacancy has been labeled a judicial emergency. “I’m still optimistic,” Sugameli said of the potential for judicial nominees to be confirmed. “There is such a need to fill long-term vacancies, many of which have been declared judicial emergencies, and so many home state Republican senators pushing for (the nominees), I think there will be a critical mass to push for action.”"

Delay of Obama nominee for Eastern District federal judgeship hits five months (Progressive Pulse [NC], 09/28/16)
Melissa Boughton: "It’s been 3,924 days since a federal judgeship in the Eastern District of North Carolina was left vacant. That’s more than 10 years for those who aren’t good at math, or, in layman’s terms, it’s the longest unfilled federal vacancy in the nation. Today marks five months since former Supreme Court of North Carolina Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson was nominated by President Barack Obama to fill the vacancy and five months since North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr announced he would block her nomination.... it’s the people and the businesses in the Eastern District who continue to suffer – not the president on his last leg. The U.S. Courts declared a judicial emergency there years ago. Timmons-Goodson has earned the American Bar Association’s highest rating of “well-qualified,” and would be the first person of color to serve as a federal judge in the state’s eastern district. In the words of Glenn Sugameli, a senior staff attorney at Defenders of Wildlife and expert in federal judicial selection [Link to www.judgingtheenvironment.org], “It is literally true that justice delayed is justice denied.”"

Sen. Cory Booker spars with Sen. Mitch McConnell over refusal to address backlog of nominees (Record [NJ] , 09/20/16)
Herb Jackson: "After verbally sparring with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Cory Booker lost two attempts Tuesday to get the Senate to vote on stalled judicial nominees, including the top lawyer for Bergen County’s government, who was nominated by President Obama 19 months ago. The federal judiciary in New Jersey has been declared in a state of emergency because of its caseload and unfilled judgeships. ... “There’s no credible reason why we’re not moving forward besides partisanship,” Booker said .... Booker noted that all but two of the 25 judicial nominees waiting for votes got through the Judiciary Committee on unanimous voice votes, indicating there are no substantive objections to the choices. Booker said he still hoped an agreement could be reached .... The key to an agreement could be nominees from Pennsylvania, according to Glenn Sugameli, founder of a group that watches nominations called Judging the Environment. Sen. Patrick Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, faces a tough re-election campaign and has been battling to get votes for two nominees who cleared the Judiciary Committee on Jan. 28, Sugameli noted."

On Confirming Judges, Senate Just Says No (Jost on Justice: Law & Justice Blog, 09/16/16)
Kenneth Jost: Even as unfilled judicial vacancies have more than doubled over the past two years, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has now all but shut down consideration of any of Obama’s judicial nominees. The 90 vacancies include 34 that are characterized as “judicial emergencies” based on caseload figures. The policy extends to noncontroversial judicial nominees for U.S. district courts even when supported by home-state Republican senators, according to Glenn Sugameli, who has been tracking federal court nominations since 2001 on a website now called JudgingtheEnvironment.org. Sugameli, who now works as a staff attorney for Defenders of Wildlife, calls the obstruction “unprecedented, unjustifiable, and harmful to businesses and individuals for whom justice delayed is justice denied.”... McConnell defends the Senate’s current record by noting that the Senate has confirmed a few more Obama judges, 329 in all, than it did for Bush in his eight years: 326. Sugameli says the comparison is misleading because of the larger number of vacancies in the Obama years.

Tom Cotton continues two-year blockade of judge confirmations (Arkansas Times, 09/14/16)
Max Brantley: "Sen. Tom Cotton continues to mount a one-man blockade to confirmation of judges to the depleted federal court of claims. Thanks as ever to Glenn Sugameli of Judging the Environment, a judicial nominations project, for the update. Tuesday, Cotton again blocked votes on five nominees twice approved unanimously by the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee to a court with six vacancies. Cotton said he's not convinced the court needs more hands. Despite the two years of deliberation on these nominations and support from his own party, Cotton characterizes the process as a "rubber stamp" of presidential nominations. With the Senate needing unanimous consent to move a vote, Cotton alone blocked it. Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy said in a statement: '... Senate Republicans' obstruction playbook leaves no court behind. It spans from the very top, with their complete refusal to give a hearing and a vote to Chief Judge Merrick Garland, to the article III circuit and district courts, to the article I Court of Federal Claims, where citizens go to sue their government. This blockade of all five CFC nominees makes no sense, especially because not a single Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee raised a concern about these nominees either during the committee hearings on these nominations 2 years ago or during the Committee debate 2 years ago or last year.' You could say Tom Cotton does not play well with others."

Cruz, Cornyn try to deliver five new federal judges for Texas: Midland-based Walter David Counts is nominee for Western Distreict [sic] of Texas (Midland Reporter-Telegram [TX], 09/08/16)
Julián Aguilar, Texas Tribune: Glenn Sugameli, an environmental attorney and activist who tracks judicial nominations, said the Eastern District of Texas demonstrates the real-time damage the vacancies cause. The district is the preferred venue for patent litigation, which has been held up during the current crisis. “When there are not enough judges, cases get delayed, people die, people forget things, documents are lost, all sorts of things happen,” he said. “That means that even if and when you do get to a case, it may be too late to even get justice. Justice delayed is justice denied.”

POLITICS Senate panel cracks logjam in shortage of federal judges in Texas (Houston News [TX], 09/08/16)
“There are plenty of reasons these seats should be filled, and need to be filled, and should have been filled a long time ago,” said Glenn Sugameli, a senior attorney for Defenders of Wildlife. “Justice delayed is literally justice denied.”

Cruz, Cornyn Try to Deliver Five New Federal Judges for Texas (Gilmer Mirror [TX], 09/07/16)
Julián Aguilar, Texas Tribune: Glenn Sugameli, an environmental attorney and activist who tracks judicial nominations, said the Eastern District of Texas demonstrates the real-time damage the vacancies cause. The district is the preferred venue for patent litigation, which has been held up during the current crisis. “When there are not enough judges, cases get delayed, people die, people forget things, documents are lost, all sorts of things happen,” he said. “That means that even if and when you do get to a case, it may be too late to even get justice. Justice delayed is justice denied.”

Cruz, Cornyn Try to Deliver Five New Federal Judges for Texas (Texas Public Radio, 09/07/16)
JULIÁN AGUILAR & THE TEXAS TRIBUNE: Glenn Sugameli, an environmental attorney and activist who tracks judicial nominations, said the Eastern District of Texas demonstrates the real-time damage the vacancies cause. The district is the preferred venue for patent litigation, which has been held up during the current crisis. “When there are not enough judges, cases get delayed, people die, people forget things, documents are lost, all sorts of things happen,” he said. “That means that even if and when you do get to a case, it may be too late to even get justice. Justice delayed is justice denied.”

Cruz, Cornyn Try to Deliver Five New Federal Judges for Texas (Texas Tribune, 09/07/16)
Julián Aguilar: Glenn Sugameli, an environmental attorney and activist who tracks judicial nominations, said the Eastern District of Texas demonstrates the real-time damage the vacancies cause. The district is the preferred venue for patent litigation, which has been held up during the current crisis. “When there are not enough judges, cases get delayed, people die, people forget things, documents are lost, all sorts of things happen,” he said. “That means that even if and when you do get to a case, it may be too late to even get justice. Justice delayed is justice denied.”

Senate panel cracks logjam in shortage of federal judges in Texas (Houston Chronicle, 09/07/16)
Kevin Diaz: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony Wednesday from five nominees to fill vacancies on federal courts in Texas, among 12 openings in a state long plagued by U.S. district court backlogs. The hearing, led by Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, could represent a crack in the political logjam that has created a nationwide shortage of federal judges, legal analysts say.... None of the nominees is considered controversial.... There are currently 22 pending judicial nominations on the Senate floor, some who have been awaiting confirmation votes for a year or more.... "There are plenty of reasons these seats should be filled, and need to be filled, and should have been filled a long time ago," said Glenn Sugameli, a senior attorney for Defenders of Wildlife. "Justice delayed is literally justice denied."

Heightened Pressure for Senate to Act on Court Nominees, Including Garland (Gavel Grab [Justice at Stake blog], 09/06/16)
“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” Glenn Sugameli, a lawyer and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, told the newspaper.

Clock ticking for Senate vote on Tenn. judicial nominee, others (Knoxville News Sentinel [TN], 09/05/16)
"There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism," said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations. Stanton, the U.S. attorney for Tennessee's Western District, has waited almost a year for a floor vote on his nomination.... No one questions his qualifications. He's backed by the state's two Republican senators, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker. He's almost certain to be confirmed, if the GOP ever agrees to give him a vote. Stanton isn't the only nominee in limbo. Twenty-seven await votes on the Senate floor, and, like Stanton, 18 would fill seats on federal district courts where cases are first heard..... most of Obama's nominees were confirmed when the Senate was under Democratic control. Republicans have confirmed just 22 judicial nominees since they returned to power in January 2015. What's more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Senate Democrats to push for Memphis judge nominee's approval (Chattanooga Times Free Press [TN] , 09/05/16)
[Pull quote] "There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism."-- GLENN SUGAMELI, FOUNDER OF THE NON-PROFIT GROUP JUDGING THE ENVIRONMENT

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Cincinnati Enquirer [OH] , 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (My South Now [WI], 09/04/16)
:"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Hattiesburg American [MS], 09/04/16)
“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Approval of Stanton judicial appointment caught in political stalemate (Commercial Appeal [TN] , 09/04/16)
Michael Collins: "There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism," said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.... Twenty-seven await votes on the Senate floor, and, like Stanton, 18 would fill seats on federal district courts where cases are first heard.... most of Obama's nominees were confirmed when the Senate was under Democratic control. Republicans have confirmed just 22 judicial nominees since they returned to power in January 2015. What's more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Indianapolis Star [IN], 09/04/16)
Michael Collins, USA Today: “There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.... What’s more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Hammonton News [NJ], 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Tallahassee Democrat [FL] , 09/04/16)
MICHAEL COLLINS, USA TODAY Network: “There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Daily News Journal [TN], 09/04/16)
“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment [link], which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Alamogordo Daily News [NM], 09/04/16)
:"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment [link], which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Iowa City Press-Citizen, 09/04/16)
MICHAEL COLLINS, USA TODAY Network: “There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Las Cruces Sun-News [NM], 09/04/16)
Michael Collins, USA TODAY: "There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism," said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.... What's more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Pensacola News Journal [FL] , 09/04/16)
MICHAEL COLLINS, USA TODAY Network: “There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Tennessean, 09/04/16)
Michael Collins, USA TODAY: "There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism," said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.... What's more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Springfield News-Leader [MO], 09/04/16)
MICHAEL COLLINS, USA TODAY Network: “There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment [link], which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Arizona Republic, 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (News Journal [DE] , 09/04/16)
Michael Collins, USA TODAY Network: "There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism," said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.... What's more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (St. Cloud Times [MN], 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment [link], which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Sheboygan Press [WI] , 09/04/16)
“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment [link], which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Desert Sun [Palm Springs, CA], 09/04/16)
Michael Collins, USA TODAY Network: "There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism," said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.... What's more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Chillicothe Gazette [OH], 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (El Paso Times [TX], 09/04/16)
MICHAEL COLLINS, USA TODAY Network: “There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Coloradoan, 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Reno Gazette-Journal [NV], 09/04/16)
Michael Collins, USA TODAY Network: "There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism," said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.... What's more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Great Falls Tribune [MT], 09/04/16)
MICHAEL COLLINS, USA TODAY Network: “There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Baxter Bulletin [Ark.], 09/04/16)
“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment [link], which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Mansfield News Journal [OH], 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Livingston Daily [MI], 09/04/16)
“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Statesman Journal [OR], 09/04/16)
MICHAEL COLLINS, USA TODAY Network: “There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Newark Advocate [OH], 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Star-Gazette [Elmira, NY], 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment [link], which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Asheville Citizen-Times [NC] , 09/04/16)
“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment [Link], which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [WI], 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Burlington Free Press [VT] , 09/04/16)
“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Courier-Journal [KY] , 09/04/16)
Michael Collins, USA TODAY: "There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism," said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.... What's more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Jackson Sun [TN], 09/04/16)
“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations....What’s more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Waukesha Now [WI], 09/04/16)
Michael Collins, USA TODAY Network: "There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism," said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.... What's more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Detroit Free Press [MI] , 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Stevens Point Journal [WI], 09/04/16)
Michael Collins , USA TODAY: “There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment [link], which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Evansville Courier Press [IN] , 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Green Bay Press Gazette [WI], 09/04/16)
MICHAEL COLLINS, USA TODAY: “There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment [link], which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Central Florida Future, 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Guam Pacific Daily News, 09/04/16)
"“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment [link], which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Star Press [Muncie, IN], 09/04/16)
“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Post-Crescent [WI] , 09/04/16)
“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Leaf Chronicle [TN], 09/04/16)
“There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations."

Democrats ratchet up pressure to approve TN judge nominee (Des Moines Register [IA], 09/04/16)
Michael Collins, USA Today: “There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.... What’s more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Clarion-Ledger [MS] , 09/04/16)
Michael Collins, USA TODAY Network: "There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism," said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.... What's more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Naples Daily News [FL] , 09/04/16)
Michael Collins, USA TODAY Network: "There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism," said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.... What's more, Obama has faced more vacancies than Bush, which is why his overall number of confirmations is slightly higher, Sugameli said.

Dems want vote on Obama's judicial nominees (Democrat and Chronicle [NY] , 09/04/16)
MICHAEL COLLINS, USA TODAY Network: “There is absolutely no reason why all of these judges should not be confirmed, other than sheer obstructionism,” said Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and founder of the nonprofit group Judging the Environment, which closely tracks judicial nominations.

These Republican Senators Want Their Judicial Nominees Confirmed. Majority Leader McConnell Isn’t Listening. (Medium, 08/04/16)
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: "When the U.S. Senate left for a seven-week summer recess last month, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R. Ky., continued to ignore repeated pleas from Republican and Democratic Senators to hold votes on 20 district and circuit court nominees pending on the Senate floor. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved all but one of these nominees on unopposed voice votes (and the other was approved on a bipartisan 13–7 vote). Republican Senators with pending nominees aren’t happy. In fact, all 16 Republican senators who have a nominee (or nominees) pending on the Senate floor have spoken favorably about them and want to see a confirmation vote, as have other Republican senators with nominees who are still in committee. [Link to Judging the Environment compilation] These senators need to keep talking about and urging — and demanding — that McConnell schedules votes after recess. Unless McConnell hears from them and obliges, Americans seeking justice will continue to face an overworked and understaffed federal judiciary made worse by this Senate majority’s inaction. Here’s a sampling of what Republican senators with nominees on the floor have said, listed in order of nomination — beginning with a Tennessee nominee who’s been waiting since May 2015: ... When senators return from their recess next month, they could swiftly take up all 20 nominees pending on the floor — if McConnell will allow it. And he should, because the matter is urgent: Five of these nominees would fill judicial emergencies — a designation by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts — and in total, since Republicans took control of the Senate in January 2015, judicial emergencies have skyrocketed from 12 to 30. Of course, one nomination still pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee is Merrick Garland’s to the U.S. Supreme Court."

Time Running Out To Get Indiana Judicial Nominees Confirmed (City-County Observer [Evansville, IN], 08/04/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, attorney and founder of the nonprofit Judging the Environment which follows judicial nominations, described Tillis’s argument as “smoke and mirrors.” He said the 89 current vacancies, up from 43 in January 2015, is higher than they were during the Bush administration. Also filling seats in some jurisdictions does not help individuals and businesses in other districts that are having to wait longer for the cases to be heard because there are not enough judges available.... Sugameli echoed Warren in saying the vacancies on the courts are causing problems for litigants. He said in his experience as an attorney representing individuals, companies and trade associations, the parties wanted a decision from the court, win or lose, so they could move forward. However, the delay in getting civil cases before a judge is putting people in limbo. “It is absolutely inexcusable,” Sugameli said. “The irony is it isn’t hurting Obama. It’s hurting people and businesses in districts without judges.”"

U.S. Senate recesses with R.I. federal judgeship still hanging (Providence Journal [RI] , 07/23/16)
Tobias and Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment, a judicial nominations project, still think McElroy will ultimately make it through. "I think McElroy will get through in September because the number of confirmations is so low," Sugameli said, adding that even Republican senators were pushing to get their nominees through.

Obstructionist Tom Cotton: Speech light on Trump references (Arkansas Times, 07/19/16)
Max Brantley: "A legal website, Law360, wrote this week about Cotton's continuing obstruction of judicial appointments, particularly to the federal court of claims. The article demolishes Cotton's pretexts for refusing to fill seats on the important court and again raises an implication that he might be serving the special interest of a former law firm in doing so. ... court with a rising caseload isn't getting the help it needs. Tom Cotton stands in the way, despite multiple approvals of bipartisan-approved nominees for vacancies. "The ability of the court to decide cases is being inexcusably harmed by Sen. Cotton's failure to do his job," said Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment and a senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife. "There's an advise and consent duty." A prominent example of the problems the court faces without a full bench came in Judge Mary Ellen Coster Williams' comments at an October scheduling conference, in a case filed by the Jicarilla Apache Nation, according to Sugameli. While noting she could possibly hand trial off to another judge, Judge Williams said that she would otherwise have to move a trial originally scheduled for November back to July, her earliest available opening, with "a lot" of emergency cases to resolve first. "There's real, specific evidence that this is hurting the ability to resolve cases," Sugameli said."

Claims Court A Quiet Victim Of Senate Nomination Deadlock (Law360, 07/18/16)
Daniel Wilson: "“The ability of the court to decide cases is being inexcusably harmed by Sen. Cotton’s failure to do his job,” said Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment and a senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife. “There’s an advise and consent duty.” A prominent example of the problems the court faces without a full bench came in Judge Mary Ellen Coster Williams’ comments at an October scheduling conference, in a case filed by the Jicarilla Apache Nation, according to Sugameli. While noting she could possibly hand trial off to another judge, Judge Williams said that she would otherwise have to move a trial originally scheduled for November back to July, her earliest available opening, with “a lot” of emergency cases to resolve first. “There’s real, specific evidence that this is hurting the ability to resolve cases,” Sugameli said."

Time running out to get Indiana judicial nominees confirmed (Indiana Lawyer, 07/14/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, attorney and founder of the nonprofit Judging the Environment which follows judicial nominations, described Tillis’s argument as “smoke and mirrors.” He said the 89 current vacancies, up from 43 in January 2015, is higher than they were during the Bush administration. Also filling seats in some jurisdictions does not help individuals and businesses in other districts that are having to wait longer for the cases to be heard because there are not enough judges available.... Sugameli echoed Warren in saying the vacancies on the courts are causing problems for litigants. He said in his experience as an attorney representing individuals, companies and trade associations, the parties wanted a decision from the court, win or lose, so they could move forward. However, the delay in getting civil cases before a judge is putting people in limbo. “It is absolutely inexcusable,” Sugameli said. “The irony is it isn’t hurting Obama. It’s hurting people and businesses in districts without judges.” Ong is at the bottom of the list of 16 District Court nominees waiting for a Senate vote. Sugameli and Carl Tobias, University of Richmond School of Law professor and expert on the federal judicial confirmation process, note there is still a window for Ong to get confirmed. The Senate goes back into session in September and could hold votes on some of the nominees then. There is precedent. In 2008, the Senate held hearings and confirmed 10 of Bush’s nominees in September."

Democratic senators pushing for vote on federal nominees (Indiana Lawyer, 07/13/16)
Glenn Sugameli, attorney and founder of Judging the Environment, a nonprofit that advises the environmental community and educates the public on federal judicial nominees, speculated the Senate could put [one or more of] the current crop of candidates up for a vote on the first day that the Senate reconvenes in September after its summer break."

So He Went There. (South Florida Lawyers, 06/09/16)
"That scoundrel, Marco Rubio discredited himself even further yesterday: "For about a year, Rubio has said little publicly about why he won’t allow a vote on Mary Barzee Flores." But Rubio and his office say there has been so much misinformation spread that he now feels compelled to go public with unflattering specifics about Barzee Flores that, out of respect to her, he tried to keep quiet. 2OH SURE!!!! Nothing like using the power of political office to smear a decent, talented public servant who would make a wise and fair federal jurist." [Glenn Sugameli source label]

Sen. Marco Rubio blocks confirmation of judge he recommended (Miami Herald, 06/05/16)
Jay Weaver: "Glenn Sugameli, a Washington, D.C., lawyer who has methodically followed federal judicial nominations over the past two decades, said Rubio’s double flip-flops for a U.S. senator were unprecedented. “I cannot recall any senator who blocked hearings on two Bush or Obama judicial nominees who were recommended by his Federal Judicial Nominating Commission or its equivalent,” said Sugameli, an attorney with Judging the Environment. Sugameli said that, by contrast, “Rubio’s fellow Republican senators from Mississippi to Wyoming have worked with the White House to fill all judgeships in their states.”"

The "Thurmond Rule" and other advice and consent myths (Brookings, 05/25/16)
Russell Wheeler: "Republican senators in other states [link to Judging the Environment website compilation of links and excerpts to GOP Senator statements supporting judicial nominees] have expressed support for confirming at least some of the nominees in their states"

Editorial: “No excuse” for Richard Burr’s blockade of Judge Timmons-Goodson (Progressive Pulse [NC], 05/13/16)
Rob Schofield: "There have now been dozens of editorials and op-eds [link to Judging the Environment website compilation] in recent months and years calling on Richard Burr to end his absurd blockade of President Obama’s attempts to fill a decade-old vacancy on the federal bench in the Eastern District of North Carolina."

Supreme Court vacancy watch Day 89: Pat Toomey's 'political stunt' fails (Daily Kos, 05/12/16)
Joan McCarter: Glenn Sugameli, a lawyer and activist who tracks court vacancies, said Mr. Toomey is cherry-picking nominees even though he knows the full Senate would never agree to take them up out of order. “It’s a political stunt that certainly appears to be for optics,” Mr. Sugameli said. “Objectively, he must have known that this would not work. If he had been serious he could have joined Sen. Casey on the floor the day before.”

Toomey presses to get Pa. judicial nominees fast-tracked for vote (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [PA], 05/12/16)
Glenn Sugameli, a lawyer and activist who tracks court vacancies, said Mr. Toomey is cherry-picking nominees even though he knows the full Senate would never agree to take them up out of order. “It’s a political stunt that certainly appears to be for optics,” Mr. Sugameli said. “Objectively, he must have known that this would not work. If he had been serious he could have joined Sen. Casey on the floor the day before.”

Letter: Judicial appointments are mired in politics (Times-News [Burlington, NC], 05/10/16)
Glenn Sugameli heads the nonpartisan Judging the Environment judicial nominations project: "Based on my 15 years of tracking federal judicial vacancies and nominations, I offer some national and historical context on your persuasive editorial ... . Justice delayed will continue to be justice denied for North Carolina people and businesses, as U.S. Sen. Richard Burr blocks former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson’s nomination to the Eastern District of North Carolina trial court. In addition to her “bonfides” you cite, the American Bar Association gave Timmons-Goodson’s nomination its highest rating: unanimously well-qualified. Senator Burr previously blocked, without explanation, President Obama’s first nominee, who Sen. Burr had recommended, for the same vacancy. Empty for more than a decade, it is the nation’s oldest vacancy by more than four years, and the U.S. Courts have declared it a “judicial emergency.”... Senator Burr’s position, however, is in stark contrast to his fellow Republican senators from Mississippi to Wyoming who have worked with the White House to fill all judgeships in their states, and to many more who are continuing to do so. My nonpartisan website has compiled statements by Republican Senators from 14 States supporting pending nominees and urging action to fill their judicial vacancies. Sadly, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is denying a hearing on Chief Judge Merrick Garland’s Supreme Court nomination, and delaying floor votes on 20 judicial nominees the Judiciary Committee approved unanimously months ago."

Though Loud, Media Voices Haven't Cracked Garland Block (Law360, 04/25/16)
"Newspaper editorial boards have run over 500 editorials calling for the consideration of an Obama-appointed U.S. Supreme Court replacement since the bitter fight over the vacancy began .... From small-town papers to large metropolitan dailies, the media have deluged the public with calls to give a hearing or vote to a successor for Justice Antonin Scalia, who unexpectedly died in February. The campaign has picked up steam since President Barack Obama tapped Merrick Garland, the politically moderate chief judge of the D.C. Circuit, for the job in mid-March. According to research compiled by Glenn Sugameli, a senior attorney and founder of the nonpartisan Judging the Environment project, the 519 editorials penned by 283 editorial boards comprise more than 90 percent of opinions on the matter."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (Charlotte Observer [NC] , 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (McClatchy newspapers, 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (Belleville News-Democrat [IL], 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (Wichita Eagle [KS] , 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (Herald [Bradenton, FL] , 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (Lexington Herald-Leader [KY], 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (Bellingham Herald [WA] , 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (Centre Daily Times [State College, PA], 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (Idaho Statesman, 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (The Olympian [WA], 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (Fresno Bee [CA] , 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (Tri-City Herald [WA] , 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (Sacramento Bee [CA] , 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (News Tribune [WA] , 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (Modesto Bee [CA], 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

Idaho and Washington state reflect big rift in Supreme Court fight (Myrtle Beach Sun News [SC] , 04/13/16)
"Glenn Sugameli, a Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney who tracks judicial nominees, said Wednesday that more than 500 newspaper editorials had urged the Senate to hold hearings."

LAW: Liberals hammer Grassley on lower-court nominees  (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 04/07/16)
"Several dozen groups including [Defenders of Wildlife and other] environmentalists, labor organizations and civil rights advocates sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today, pressing him to take action on seven federal appeals court nominees and dozens of nominees for federal district courts. ... "While a great deal of public attention has rightly been focused on the pending nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court, vacancies on the lower courts must not be lost amidst the debate," says the letter sent by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and 42 other organizations. Many of the nominees "would fill seats in districts that are currently facing judicial emergencies," the letter says. Many of those nominees come from states where both senators have indicated their approval, the letter says, which should normally "clear the way for hearings and up-or-down confirmation votes. Instead, these nominees have fallen victim to election-year gamesmanship." The seven appeals court nominees are Rebecca Haywood for the 3rd Circuit, Lisabeth Hughes for the 6th Circuit, Donald Schott and Myra Selby for the 7th Circuit, Jennifer Puhl for the 8th Circuit, Lucy Koh for the 9th Circuit, and Abdul Kallon for the 11th Circuit. "The Committee has a constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent on presidential nominees, and a duty to the American people to simply do its job. In the coming weeks and months, our organizations will continue to make the case until it does," the groups wrote."

What They’re Saying – Environmental Organizations (The White House, 03/28/16)
Here’s why members of the environmental community, like the majority of Americans, support the President’s nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. ... "Defenders of Wildlife: “Judge Garland has nearly two decades of distinguished service on our second most important court, the D.C. Circuit. He is entitled to fair consideration, including a Senate Committee hearing and a full Senate vote on his nomination.”

Supreme Court fight could fast-track lower court noms [Print Subhead: While Republicans block Garland, lawmakers will still want to advance other judges to save face] (Examiner, 03/21/16)
"The pressure should be on to move non-controversial nominees ... to show they can get something done," said Glenn Sugameli, who runs a nonpartisan judicial nominations project called Judging the Environment. Sugameli referred to the "Thurmond rule," named after the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C. It means that if the same party does not control the presidency and the Senate, movement on judicial nominees will slow and ultimately cease in a president's final year. But the rule was never meant to apply to "consensus nominees," Sugameli said, noting most of the pending district and circuit court candidates were vetted by Republicans and Democrats and have the blessing of their home-state senators, many of whom are Republicans. Sugameli said the Senate routinely confirmed consensus lower-court nominees well into September, and sometimes even in lame-duck sessions, because the process of getting candidates to the floor is so lengthy and so many jurisdictions are "judicial emergencies" as defined by the federal judiciary. "What is the point" of blocking nominees who have the backing of their home-state senators, Sugameli asked.

Toomey Irked by Obama’s Third Circuit Nominee (Legal Intelligencer, 03/16/16)
Glenn Sugameli, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney ­tracking judicial vacancies, said other senators have experienced similar circumstances of Obama nominating a judicial candidate without their approval, and have still managed to submit their blue slips. The so-called "blue slip" is part of a Senate procedure established more by tradition than formal rule and holds that a nominee won't get a hearing in front of the Judiciary Committee until both of the home-state senators return a blue slip giving their OK to the committee chair. "The blue slips from Republican senators from North Dakota and Wisconsin have been turned in, which gives a green light on circuit court nominees to fill vacancies right now," Sugameli said. "I don't see any reason why Sen. Toomey can't do the same thing."

SUPREME COURT: Green machine ready to back White House in nominee brawl  (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 03/15/16)
"I am absolutely sure that there is unanimous and united and very strong and active support within the environmental community for the need for a nomination, the need for a hearing on the nominee and the need for a vote on the nominee," said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney at Defenders of Wildlife who heads a project that keeps tabs on nominees to federal courts. "The members of environmental groups understand how important the federal courts are for upholding and enforcing environmental law," Sugameli said. Still, he added, interest groups will delve into the eventual nominee's record once Obama's choice is announced. Among the candidates rumored to be in the running, "I don't see real issues arising," he said.

What Are Senate Republicans So Afraid of? (Huffington Post, 03/03/16)
Christopher Kang: "Maybe they are afraid of being confronted by the voices of their constituents, as 207 (and counting) newspaper editorial boards --including nine in Iowa--have opposed their position [Link to Judging the Environment website compilation of Editorials by state on Filling the Scalia Supreme Court vacancy]

Rubio holds up Obama nominee he once backed for Miami federal bench (Miami Herald, 02/28/16)
A Washington, D.C., lawyer who methodically follows federal judicial nominations, said it is “very unusual” for a U.S. senator to recommend a candidate for a federal judgeship and then hold it up during the confirmation process. Glenn Sugameli, an attorney with Judging the Environment, said Rubio’s puzzling stance on Flores is actually part of a broader GOP mission to run out the clock on Obama’s judicial nominations. “This is not some special circumstances,” Sugameli said. “They have been doing this during the entire Obama presidency.”

Pa. Judge Nominees Shut Out Of Senate Hearing (Law360, 02/26/16)
Glenn Sugameli, the founder of Judging the Environment and a senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife, said to Law360 on Friday.. .that it is alarming that four judicial nominees who had hearings six weeks after Judge Younge and Judge Colville are “going to be jumping in front of them.” He said the fact that their considerations are still being delayed is “very disturbing” because there is a clear need to fill those vacancies, and the fact that they remain off the list indicates to him that Toomey is either not pushing hard enough or ineffectual. “All of these nominees really affect the real world in the sense that justice delayed is justice denied,” Sugameli said.

Toomey Urges Committee to Approve Judicial Nominees (Legal Intelligencer, 02/25/16)
But the question remains as to whether the GOP leadership’s vow to block any replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court until after the presidential election will affect pending nominees for the lower courts. Glenn Sugameli, a Washington D.C.-based attorney tracking judicial vacancies, said it shouldn’t—there are other factors at play. If Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Grassley refused to consider an Obama nominee to fill Scalia’s seat because it’s a unique vacancy that only recently opened up, Sugameli said, they would hold floor votes on the 17 trial judge nominees the Judiciary Committee approved on voice votes last year, and hold hearings and votes on all nominees to fill vacancies that preceded this year.

As Tillis flip-flops, nearly 200 editorials across the nation criticize Supreme Court blockade (Progressive Pulse [NC], 02/24/16)
"Veteran attorney Glenn Sugameli of the group Defenders of Wildlife has been keeping track of the newspaper editorials across the country that have spoken against the blockade of any Obama Supreme Court nominee. His findings are remarkable. As of yesterday, 191 editorials had weighed in against the absurd roadblock (i.e. the one that North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis officially joined yesterday after previously saying he would do no such thing). Click here to see Sugameli’s comprehensive, state-by-state list and here to read the latest editorial on the subject from Raleigh’s News & Observer."

SUPREME COURT: Green groups ready ... for confirmation fight (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 02/23/16)
Glenn Sugameli, a senior attorney for Defenders of Wildlife, told E&E Daily he has been working "full time" on the Supreme Court nomination battle since news of Scalia's death went public. "Clearly, this is going to be a major issue for however long it takes to fill the seat," Sugameli said. "This is something that needs to be done." Without a replacement for Scalia, Supreme Court tie votes would leave lower court rulings in place, which could benefit the president's agenda. Still, Sugameli said the high court was necessary to clear up conflicting rulings. "The Court being now split 4-4 could lead to paralysis," Sugameli said. "It doesn't just leave lower court decisions alone. It leaves competing lower court decisions alone." Sugameli is also founder of Judging the Environment, a research project of Defenders of Wildlife that advises environmental groups on federal judicial nominations. Since Scalia's passing, he has been sending emails to members of the press and supporters and compiling newspaper editorial board statements in support of Senate action on Obama's upcoming nominee. Sugameli has also been monitoring public opinion polls and senators' statements on a potential Scalia replacement. "So many environmental issues are decided in the courts, whether they're enforced or upheld," Sugameli said. "The environmental groups need a very reasonable judge, someone who will enforce and uphold the laws that are on the books." ... Sugameli said, "There will be a nominee, and there should be a hearing, and no matter what happens in committee, that nominee should have an up-or-down vote in the full Senate."

BREAKING -- Judge Abdul K. Kallon nominated to 11th Circuit (Southern District of Florida Blog, 02/11/16)
This is big news. The nomination comes out of Alabama to fill Judge Dubina's seat. This would be the first African American judge to serve on the 11th Circuit out of Alabama. ... (H/T Glenn Sugameli).

Two Pa. Federal Judicial Nominees Pass Senate Committee (Legal Intelligencer, 01/29/16)
Glenn Sugameli, a Washington, D.C., attorney tracking judicial nominations, said it is up to Toomey to motivate the Republican leadership to confirm Pennsylvania's nominees. He added that there is still a vacant seat on the Third Circuit to consider. "The need to fill Senior Judge Marjorie Rendell's Third Circuit seat was announced more than a year ago and the seat has been empty since July 1, 2015," Sugameli said. "It is long past time for Sen. Toomey to end his roadblock and greenlight a nominee to fill this seat." Sugameli added that pushing for swift confirmation of the nominees, something that is made more complicated by an election year, would be a politically smart move. "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell [R-Kentucky] says that his priority for floor time this year will be helping re-elect Sen. Toomey and other endangered GOP senators," Sugameli said. "From a strictly nonpartisan perspective, it is clear that if Sen. Toomey truly wants to fill his state's Third Circuit and district court vacancies, as he has repeatedly stressed, then he can get it done."

These Republicans could be the saving grace for Obama's judges (Examiner, 01/25/16)
"How many more of the 28 nominees awaiting either confirmation or committee action make it to the circuit or district bench is largely up to the home-state Republican lawmakers who back them and the few vulnerable GOP senators seeking re-election in swing states, said Glenn Sugameli, who runs a nonpartisan judicial nominations project called Judging the Environment.... Sugameli said Wright's circumstances were a "perfect storm" and not indicative of how other pending nominees, especially the 16 who have the support of at least one Republican senator, will fare."

Any hope for filling Third Circuit’s empty seat in 2016? I’m skeptical. (CA3blog, 01/22/16)
"With Judge Restrepo finally on the Third Circuit, attention has turned to the Third Circuit’s other empty seat, the one created when Judge Rendell took senior status in July of last year. Even though Rendell announced her decision a year ago now, President Obama still has not nominated a replacement. P.J. D’Annunzio had this article earlier this month in the Legal Intelligencer, headlined “Pa. US Courts Still Hampered by Vacancies,” reporting that the Philadelphia Bar Association plans to write to Senators Toomey and Casey “about the urgency of filling Rendell’s seat.” Recent letters to the editor, including this one by Glenn Sugameli of Judging the Environment and this one by Christine Stone of Why Courts Matter, have sounded the same note."

Pennsylvanians deserve to have a fully staffed federal bench (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [PA], 01/19/16)
Glenn Sugameli letter to the editor: "After the Senate’s inexcusably delayed bipartisan approval of Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo’s 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals nomination ... Pennsylvania federal courts still suffer from one appellate and five trial judge vacancies. Four July Pennsylvania district court nominees (three for the Western District, which includes Pittsburgh) need committee and floor votes. Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, made a floor statement Jan. 11 that expressed his hope that Sen. Pat Toomey “can convince the Republican majority leader not to submit [them] to the extensive confirmation delay that Judge Restrepo endured.” There is still no nominee for Senior Judge Marjorie Rendell’s 3rd Circuit seat, even though the vacancy was announced almost a year ago. Sen. Leahy noted that “the White House has been working for months with Sen. Toomey and Sen. [Bob] Casey on th[is] second Pennsylvania vacancy. … I look forward to the Judiciary Committee considering that nomination soon.” Pennsylvanians deserve a fully staffed federal bench. It can be done: In March 2008, President George W. Bush nominated a 4th Circuit judge whom a Democratic Senate confirmed in two months."

Senate Judge Battle Keeps Attorneys Away (Law360, 01/15/16)
“There’s a really large number of vacancies that are unjustifiable,” Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment and a senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife, said. “I was a litigator for a long time … and a lot of times, my clients — [they] always wanted to win a case, to be fair — but sometimes they would rather get a decision against them than not get a decision at all. Delay really puts you in a state of limbo where you don’t know what the rules are; you can’t plan your future.” ... “I do think the White House will make every effort to nominate people for every possible vacancy,” Sugameli said. “I don’t expect every single vacancy to be filled, but I certainly think there are good, objective reasons why the pending nominees — and some new ones l— should be confirmed. There’s plenty of time to do and plenty of reason to do it.”

Pa. US Courts Still Hampered by Vacancies (Legal Intelligencer, 01/13/16)
To Glenn Sugameli, a Washington, D.C., attorney tracking judicial vacancies, Toomey's credibility is on the line, especially with filling the remaining Third Circuit vacancy. "He claims to be working to fill all Pennsylvania vacancies, not 'except the Rendell seat,'" Sugameli said. The glacial pace in filling Pennsylvania's judicial seats is something of a new trend, according to Sugameli, who said that the late Sen. Arlen Specter was adept at filling vacancies as they came up. If Toomey is to be believed, Sugameli said, "There is no reason why there should not be a nominee who is named and goes through the process this year." Despite the impending presidential election this year, Sugameli said the fact that Toomey is up for a challenging bid for re-election could help speed up the confirmation process. "This should increase the chances that this will happen, otherwise you'll see a chorus of voices in the state that say we've had two Third Circuit seats vacant, it is your responsibility or your fault that it took so long to get a nominee you raved about at a hearing" to get a floor vote, Sugameli said.

Judge Restrepo Confirmed After 14 Months (Politics PA, 01/12/16)
“Justice delayed from lack of judges is justice denied,” said Glenn Sugameli, founder of the Judging the Environment judicial nominations project, with the number of vacancies up by more than 50% over the last year. “There is no justification for the extreme delay of today’s Senate vote on Judge Restrepo’s over-one-year-old nomination to fill a U.S. Courts-declared judicial emergency vacancy,” Sugameli said.

Letter: Did Grassley, Senate really get to work? (Daily Globe [MN], 01/07/16)
Glenn Sugameli: "Justice delayed from lack of judges is justice denied for people and businesses in Iowa, Minnesota and throughout the nation. In each of President George W. Bush’s final two years, a Democratic Senate confirmed all his judicial nominees pending on the executive calendar in December. In contrast, Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) unjustifiably delayed 14 lifetime and five other judicial nominees awaiting December Floor votes, even though Minnesota, Iowa and all other nominees were approved on Judiciary Committee voice votes. All seven home-state Republican senators (including Sens. Grassley and Joni Ernst) recommended their nominees and urged their prompt approval."

Letter to the editor – Glenn Sugameli (Greene County News [IA], 01/07/16)
"Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)’s Opinion Column: Review of 2015 — Senate goes to work (Dec. 31) cites the fact that lawmakers “considered nominations” to support his claim that the “Senate succeeded in breathing life back into the world’s greatest deliberative body.” In his role as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, however, Sen. Grassley must know that the Senate spectacularly failed its advise and consent constitutional duty to not only “consider nominations,” but to vote on them. In 2015, the Senate only voted on 11 federal judges, all of whom were confirmed (the fewest since 1960). Vacancies have increased more than 50 percent in one year while those the U.S. Courts declared to be judicial emergencies soared from 12 to 32."

Georgia Latino’s court nomination appears in peril over immigration (Atlanta Journal Constitution, 12/24/15)
Glenn Sugameli of Defenders of Wildlife, who works with left-leaning organizations to track judicial nominations, said election-year politics are no excuse to slow-walk a nominee. “If the Georgia senators really want to say ‘We do not approve this person,’ they should do it, and there’s still time to get someone else in that spot,” Sugameli said. “The most irresponsible thing would be to let this thing linger.”

Restrepo Vote Set, District Nominees May Face Long Road (Legal Intelligencer, 12/10/15)
"As for the four district court nominees, Glenn Sugameli, a Washington, D.C., attorney tracking judicial vacancies, said there is no legitimate reason for their confirmations to be delayed, but like others, noted that it continues to happen. Sugameli pointed to Travis Randall McDonough, chief of staff to the mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee, who was confirmed by vote in the Senate for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee on Dec. 7. McDonough had been stuck in the confirmation process for almost as long as Restrepo. But the need to fill judicial seats is an urgent priority, and Republicans have said as much, according to Sugameli. "Any delays will expose Republican senators as being impotent or dishonest," Sugameli said."

GOP freeze on judgeship includes single-handed Tom Cotton blockade (Arkansas Times, 12/09/15)
Max Brantley: "Glenn Sugameli, who heads the Judging the Environment judicial nominations project, called the Leahy statement to my attention. It has experienced court delay because of a shortage of claims judges. His organization is not alone in protesting Cotton's obstructionism. ... And you can read more here [link to Judging the Environment webpage] particularly on Cotton's blockade of Armando Bonilla."

Will Restrepo Be Confirmed to Appeals Court? Toomey Urges Vote (Gavel Grab [Justice at Stake blog], 12/08/15)
Glenn Sugameli, a Washington lawyer and environmental activist who tracks judicial nominations, was critical of Republicans for not moving the nomination sooner, according to Philly.com. It has been “inexcusably delayed,” he said. “Securing a vote this year is vital but it is far too late to vote ‘without delay,’” he said, alluding to a Toomey statement urging a confirmation vote “without delay.”

Toomey urges judge's confirmation as critics take aim (Philadelphia Inquirer [PA], 12/07/15)
Toomey’s "long overdue letter" is "welcome," wrote Glenn Sugameli, a Washington attorney and environmental activist who closely follows judicial nominations, but he criticized Republicans for not acting faster. Restrepo’s nomination has already been "inexcusably delayed," said a Sugameli statement. "Securing a vote this year is vital but it is far too late to vote ‘without delay.’

Backlog in Cases Noted as Judicial Nominee Awaits Senate Action (Gavel Grab [Justice at Stake blog], 12/04/15)
"The newspaper quotes Glenn Sugameli of Judging the Environment as saying judicial emergencies declared by the U.S. courts have “skyrocketed this year from 12 to 30 because of unjustifiable delays by Sen. Rubio and other home-state Republican senators.”"

Restrepo Skipped in Latest Senate Confirmation Vote (Legal Intelligencer, 12/04/15)
Glenn Sugameli, a Washington, D.C., attorney tracking judicial vacancies, said Toomey has the power to convince McConnell to set a vote, especially for a noncontroversial nominee like Restrepo, who on July 9 was unanimously approved in the Judiciary Committee for a full Senate vote. "If Restrepo does not get a floor vote by the end of the year it is because Sen. Toomey has not been pushing for the vote as he claims he's been or he's been utterly incapable of convincing his own majority leader to schedule a 10-minute vote on a year-old nominee to fill a judicial emergency who was approved in committee unanimously months ago," Sugameli said. Sugameli also took issue with Grassley's comments that more judicial nominees had been confirmed during Obama's time than Bush's; he said the higher number of confirmations during the current administration was because there have been more judicial vacancies than during the Bush presidency.

Rubio faces criticism over holding up South Florida judicial nominee (Tampa Bay Times [FL], 12/03/15)
“U.S. Courts declared judicial emergency vacancies skyrocketed this year from 12 to 30 because of unjustifiable delays by Sen. Rubio and other home-state Republican senators,” said Glenn Sugameli of Judging the Environment.

Sen. Marco Rubio faces criticism over holding up South Florida judicial nominee (Tampa Bay Times [FL], 12/03/15)
"U.S. Courts declared judicial emergency vacancies skyrocketed this year from 12 to 30 because of unjustifiable delays by Sen. Rubio and other home-state Republican senators," said Glenn Sugameli of Judging the Environment.

Marco Rubio, Do Your Job! (South Florida Lawyers, 11/17/15)
"It's "just not fun" that Rubio continues to refuse to turn in the blue slip necessary to get a vote on Mary Barzee Flores' nomination to fill an "emergency seat" on the SD FL. Here is Senator Leahy yesterday on the failure to get qualified judicial nominees on the federal bench: [EXCERPT] Enough already! In fact, Senator Reid today actually addressed the specific issue of Rubio's mistreatment of Mary's nomination: [EXCERPT] Enough already (already)! ... Labels: Glenn Sugameli"

Marco crushes Jeb (Southern District of Florida Blog, 10/29/15)
David Markus: "Would a more effective attack be about judicial nominations? Rubio won't give the blue-slip on his own judicial nominee [Huffington Post link and excerpt]... HT Glenn Sugameli"

Judge Ungaro published in U.M. Law Review (South Carolina Appellate Law, 10/22/15)
David Markus: The intro from, Hon. Ursula Ungaro, Foreword: The Evolution of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals: A New Era of Diversity on the Bench, 69 U. Miami L. Rev. 929 (2015): ... HT Glenn Sugameli

Wheels of justice slow at overloaded federal courts (Associated Press, 09/27/15)
"Across the country, federal district courts have seen a rise in recent years in the time it takes to get civil cases to trial and resolve felony criminal cases as judges' workloads have increased, according to statistics from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The problem is particularly acute in some federal courts such as California's and Texas's Eastern Districts. Judges there have workloads about twice the national average and say they are struggling to keep up. The result, the judges and attorneys say, is longer wait times in prison for defendants awaiting trial, higher costs for civil lawsuits and delays that can render those suits moot.... Legal scholars say Congress needs to fill judicial vacancies more quickly but also increase the number of judges in some districts — both issues that get bogged down in partisan political fights over judicial nominees. California's Eastern District, which covers a large swath of the state that includes Sacramento and Fresno, has had an unfilled judicial vacancy for nearly three years, and it has the same number of judicial positions — six — it had in 1978, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The Judicial Conference of the United States, the national policy-making body for the federal courts, has recommended Congress double the number of judicial positions in the district. In the late 1990s, the median time for civil cases to go to trial in the district averaged 2 years and four months. From 2009 to 2014, that number jumped by more than a year."

CQ follows the money on Tom Cotton's blockade of federal judges (Arkansas Times, 07/21/15)
Max Brantley: "Todd Ruger of CQ Roll Call follows up on Sen. Tom Cotton's solo blockade of five nominees to vacant seats on the federal court of claims — an obscure court that is nonetheless very important to business for deciding federal contract disputes and tax claims. Ruger notes that Cotton's action dovetails with interests of a former conservative law firm for which he worked and which contributed to his political campaigns.... Cotton suggests a judge has told him the current court can handle cases. That person has not been identified, while numerous judges and bar officials have spoken of the need for filling the vacancies. Based on research by Glenn Sugameli of Judging the Environment, a court monitoring project, an educated guess on Cotton's source would be Victor Wolski, Cotton's former colleague. He forthrightly said every job he ever took prior to his confirmation was ideologically orientated to further limited government, individual liberty and property rights. A Cotton clone, in other words. None of Cotton's concerns were raised in four previous Senate votes by the Judiciary Committee to confirm the nominees."

Tom Cotton continues his obstructionist ways (Arkansas Times, 07/15/15)
Max Brantley: "U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton yesterday blocked efforts to fill five vacancies on the federal Court of Claims .... Cotton wouldn't allow confirmation of a single judge, even after Coons spoke in some detail about their qualifications and the need. Glenn Sugameli who follows the federal judiciary for the Judging the Environment project, said Cotton ignored Judiciary Committee approval of all five nominees in 2014 and 2015 and letters from the chief judge of the court and Claims Bar Association presidents on the caseload. Said Sugameli, “There is no reason for the long delayed Floor votes on the five unopposed nominees and every reason to vote now after the Chief Judge and five past presidents of the Court of Federal Claims Bar Association urged prompt action to help with major caseload problems from lack of five judges on the 16 judge court. Justice delayed from lack of judges is justice denied.” ... Sugameli notes that during the Bush administration, the Senate confirmed nine judges to the Court of Federal Claims, while only three have been confirmed during the Obama administration. During two rounds of Judicial Committee hearings on this group, no Republican expressed the "concerns" Cotton used yesterday to block the vote."

Judiciary Committee Approves Restrepo For Senate Vote (Legal Intelligencer, 07/14/15)
"Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial vacancies for the Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C., maintains that Senate Republicans have made a practice of delaying the confirmation of candidates nominated by Obama. Sugameli said the risk for further delay now comes from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, who controls when the vote will be held. However, he noted that Toomey can push McConnell for prompt scheduling. "McConnell listens to his members," Sugameli said, adding the question is whether Toomey is willing to go to McConnell. Toomey's spokeswoman, E.R. Anderson, said the senator has already approached McConnell. "Sen. Toomey supports the nomination of Judge Restrepo for the Third Circuit," Anderson said in an email to The Legal. "As part of his efforts on this issue, the senator has spoken directly with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to emphasize the importance of getting Judge Restrepo confirmed." Don Stewart, a spokesman for McConnell, said that while a date for the vote has not yet been scheduled, "Sen. Toomey has been calling us, so it's on the leader's radar." Although further delay is possible, Sugameli said at this stage in Restrepo's confirmation process, "all indications are that he'll be confirmed unanimously, based on every nominee that has been considered.""

National Law Journal tweet on Judging the Environment post of letter (National Law Journal, 07/10/15)
Zoe Tillman: US Court of Federal Claims chief judge wrote to Congress today asking them to please please please confirm nominees http://www.judgingtheenvironment.org/library/letters/2015-07-10-Letter-from-Chief-Judge-re-USCFC-Judicial-Nominees.pdf …

Senate Judiciary Committee Delays Restrepo's Confirmation Vote (Legal Intelligencer, 06/26/15)
Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial vacancies for the Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C., said earlier this week that Senate Republicans have made a practice of delaying the confirmation of candidates nominated by Obama, and added that in order to avoid a delay, Toomey has to push Grassley for Restrepo's vote to go on as scheduled. "It'll be a test of whether he really supports the nominee as strongly as he says he does," Sugameli said. Several groups have called for swift action throughout Restrepo's confirmation, including the Pittsburgh City Council, the Hispanic Bar Association, and several editorial boards, according to Sugameli. "If he doesn't ask for the vote to be held when it is scheduled then he will be responsible for a delay," Sugameli said. "If he wants to say, 'I'm not responsible for further delays' then he needs to ask the Senate Republicans to not delay the vote in committee."

Not so fast: will Restrepo committee vote happen tomorrow after all? (CA3blog, 06/24/15)
Matthew Stiegler: "courts activist Glenn Sugameli calls on Senator Toomey to ask the committee chair to hold the vote as scheduled (Keystone Progress has done so as well, as reported here), and this People for the American Way blog post argues that non-committee members have done so in the past."

[Updated] Committee Vote Set for Restrepo, but Delay Seems Likely (Legal Intelligencer, 06/24/15)
Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial vacancies for the Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C., said Senate Republicans have made a practice of delaying the confirmation of candidates nominated by Obama, and added that in order to avoid a delay, Toomey has to push Grassley for Restrepo's vote to go on as scheduled. "It'll be a test of whether he really supports the nominee as strongly as he says he does," Sugameli said. Several groups have called for swift action throughout Restrepo's confirmation, including the Pittsburgh City Council, the Hispanic Bar Association, and several editorial boards, according to Sugameli. "If he doesn't ask for the vote to be held when it is scheduled then he will be responsible for a delay," Sugameli said. "If he wants to say, 'I'm not responsible for further delays' then he needs to ask the Senate Republicans to not delay the vote in committee."

Committee Vote Set for Restrepo, but Delay Seems Likely (Legal Intelligencer, 06/23/15)
Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial vacancies for the Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C., said Senate Republicans have made a practice of delaying the confirmation of candidates nominated by Obama, and added that in order to avoid a delay, Toomey has to push Grassley for Restrepo’s vote to go on as scheduled. “It’ll be a test of whether he really supports the nominee as strongly as he says he does,” Sugameli said. Several groups have called for swift action throughout Restrepo’s confirmation, including the Pittsburgh City Council, the Hispanic Bar Association, and several editorial boards, according to Sugameli.

Judicial Vacancies webpage (American Bar Association, 06/23/15)
Additional Resources: "Senators’ statements on judicial nominations and vacancies, this exhaustive data bank contains more than 3,500 entries that are sortable by nominee, issue, senator, and more, Glenn Sugameli, Judging the Environment"

Sen. Pat Toomey must push for vote to confirm Judge Luis Restrepo (Morning Call [PA], 06/16/15)
Glenn Sugameli, Judging the Environment, Letter to the Editor: "The story, "Senate Judiciary panel vets Pa. nominee," reports that "there's more waiting for" Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo after the "uneventful" hearing on his nomination to the U.S Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Sen. Pat Toomey, the story said, "noted the unanimous Senate approval when Restrepo was nominated to his district judgeship: 'I hope to see exactly such a confirmation occur this year.'" But "this year" suggests further needless delays of Restrepo's November nomination to fill a 2013 vacancy the U.S. Courts declared a judicial emergency. Those pressing for swift action include newspaper editorial boards and the Hispanic National Bar Association. A Pittsburgh City Council resolution urged a floor vote before another Pennsylvania Third Circuit seat is vacated on July 1, when Judge Marjorie Rendell takes senior status. Until Sen. Toomey persuades his majority leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell, to allow a prompt vote, justice delayed from lack of judges will continue to be justice denied."

3rd Circ. Nominee Edges Closer To Long Vacant Seat (Law360, 06/10/15)
"If and when Judge Restrepo is confirmed for the appeals court, the number of vacancies on the state’s federal district courts will rise from four to five, and some observers are worried about the speed with which those will be filled. Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment and a senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife, raised concerns about “sheer mindless obstruction” in the process. In an email to Law360 on Wednesday, he mentioned that although Toomey said he hoped the Senate would be able to vote on Restrepo's confirmation this year, there will only be more delay if he is unwilling or unable to secure prompt votes."

With Senate control, will the GOP stop confirming circuit court judges? (Brookings, 06/10/15)
"Glenn Sugameli, who monitors nominations closely, told The Hill that senators in three of the seven states “say they are working” to get nominees in place."

No more showdowns over Obama's judicial nominations? (Examiner, 06/09/15)
"While the fight may be dying down, there was still some worry on the left about McConnell's comments. Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney Glenn Sugameli highlighted the comments in his blog Judging the Environment,"

Maybe Senate Won’t Shut Down on Confirming Appeals Judges (Gavel Grab [Justice at Stake blog], 06/08/15)
"Some Republican senators in the GOP-controlled Senate are working with the Obama administration to fill vacancies on the appellate courts that affect their home states, Glenn Sugameli noted. He monitors judicial appointments for Judging the Environment, a Defenders of Wildlife project."

McConnell backs away from judicial shutdown talk (The Hill, 06/06/15)
But Glenn Sugameli, the founder of Defenders of Wildlife[‘s Judging the Environment program], which tracks judicial nominees, raised doubts that McConnell will completely freeze circuit-court nominees. “This is an unfortunate statement from Sen. McConnell. It suggests an unprecedented and totally unjustifiable effort to slow down vacancies but it cannot mean what some people are saying it means in headlines and sometimes in stories, which is a total shutdown,” he said. Sugameli noted that several Republican senators are working with the administration to fill appellate-court vacancies affecting their states. Alabama Sens. Richard Shelby (R) and Jeff Sessions (R) are talking with the White House about putting together a slate of nominees, including one on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals left by Judge Joel Dubina, who took senior status in October of 2013. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson (R) told the Juneau County Star Times that he is working with Obama to fill vacant court slots, including one on the 7thCircuit Court of Appeals. Indiana Sen. Dan Coats (R) has called for the establishment of an Indiana Federal Nominating Commission to help fill several judicial vacancies, including one on the 7th Circuit, which has two open slots. “There are senators from Alabama, from Indiana, from Wisconsin, from Texas, all of whom have court of appeals vacancies that they all say they are working to fill with Obama nominees,” said Sugameli. He said if McConnell really intends to block votes on circuit-court nominees for the rest of the Congress, “then he’s just cut the legs out from all those senators.”

Confirmation Hearing Date Set for Restrepo (Legal Intelligencer, 06/05/15)
Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial vacancies for the Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C., said there are five outstanding vacancies on the federal bench in Pennsylvania; the appellate bench for which Restrepo has been nominated as well as three trial court seats in the Western District and one in the Eastern District. Sugameli said the amount of time it has taken to get to this point in Restrepo's nomination process is unacceptable. "The bottom line in all of this is that justice delayed is justice denied," Sugameli said. "When there are not enough judges, then cases are not decided in time." The problem is also a national one, Sugameli said, with only four nominees across the country being confirmed this year: one in Utah and three in Texas. Putting pressure on senators to get the ball rolling—as the Pittsburgh City Council did in creating a resolution calling on Toomey to submit his blue slip—is a step in the right direction, according to Sugameli. Yet Restrepo still has more hurdles to clear before being confirmed. After Restrepo's hearing, a committee vote will be taken, followed by a vote by the full Senate before he could be seated on the appellate bench. "A hearing and a committee vote is meaningless without a floor vote," Sugameli said. "So the question is what will the home senators like Sen. Toomey do to push for a floor vote?"

Vilardo’s nomination headed to full Senate (Daily Record [NY], 06/04/15)
“After an unjustifiable delay, the Senate Judiciary Committee finally voice voted judicial nominees,” said Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment, who has been researching judicial nominations since 2001. “Only Floor votes can help with the continuing lack of judges that means justice delayed is justice denied for people and businesses that need courts to resolve disputes.”

PA-Sen: Judiciary Committee Sets Confirmation Hearing for Restrepo (Politics PA, 06/04/15)
Jason Addy: In the seven months since Restrepo was nominated, the seat he was named to fill has been declared a “judicial emergency vacancy” by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment, said he believes the process has been filled with “sheer mindless obstruction.” Judging the Environment is an Washington, D.C.-based organization that has tracked judicial nominees since 2001. Restrepo was unanimously confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of PA in 2013, making the delay for a background check, as well as for the blue slip, “clearly massive and unjustifiable,” Sugameli said. On May 12, the City Council of Pittsburgh adopted a resolution urging Toomey and Grassley to move the confirmation process ahead, before another judicial emergency vacancy is declared in PA. “[It’s] pretty remarkable when you have to have a city council weigh in to have a Senator do his job,” Sugameli said.

Restrepo To Have 3rd Circ. Nomination Hearing Next Week (Law360, 06/04/15)
If and when Judge Restrepo is confirmed for the appeals court, the number of vacancies on the state’s federal district courts will rise from four to five, and observers are also worried about the speed with which those will be filled. Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment and a senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife, raised concerns about “sheer mindless obstruction” in the process.

Letter: Senate needlessly delays judge confirmations (Salt Lake Tribune [UT], 05/29/15)
Glenn Sugameli: "Thomas Burr's May 22 article noted Utah Supreme Court Justice Jill Parrish's "eight month wait" for the 100-0 Senate vote that confirmed her as a federal district judge. Remarkably, Sen. Orrin Hatch was only able to deliver on the second half of his January pledge to push for "swift and unanimous confirmation." To be fair, state Judge Jose Olvera, Jr.'s 100-0 confirmation to fill a U.S. Courts declared judicial emergency in Texas suffered the exact same delays, despite the January promise of Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, to "continue pushing for [his] swift confirmation." Parrish and Olvera were first nominated Sept. 18, 2014, and were approved on a Judiciary Committee voice vote on Feb. 26, 2015 (the same day as Attorney General Loretta Lynch). Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's continuing unjustifiable delays of other consensus judicial nominees harm people and businesses, as a lack of judges means justice delayed is justice denied. As The Wall Street Journal reported on April 6: "In Federal Courts, the Civil Cases Pile Up: Record number of pending actions delays some suits for years.""

Facebook comments calling judges "dumbasses" cost JNC appointment (Southern District of Florida Blog, 05/28/15)
Whoops. The Tampa Tribune has the story about "Republican kingmaker Sam Rashid":... "Though he later edited the statement - replacing the word with “dumb mothers” - the posting cost Rashid a U.S. senatorial appointment to the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission. The commission nominates candidates for federal judgeships," HT Glenn Sugameli

Toomey Submits Blue Slip, but Will Restrepo Get a Hearing? (Legal Intelligencer, 05/19/15)
"The really big issue is when the floor vote will be," said Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial vacancies for the Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C., noting that two nominees, one from Texas and one from Utah, were voted out of committee in February and still haven't gotten a floor vote.

Senator Signs Off on Nominee for U.S. Appeals Court (Gavel Grab [Justice at Stake blog], 05/15/15)
The nomination of Judge Restrepo “is just the top of the iceberg,” said Glenn Sugameli, who monitors judicial appointments for Judging the Environment, a Defenders of Wildlife project. “There are other inexcusably delayed vacancies,” he said. “It’s pretty clear there is massive slow-walking going on and it’s hurting people” in districts where backlogs of cases are accumulating and judges cannot keep pace.

Toomey signs off on nominee for federal appeals court (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [PA], 05/14/15)
Tracie Mauriello: "“It is literally unbelievable,” said Glenn Sugameli, an attorney who tracks judicial vacancies for the Defenders of Wildlife in Washington. “If somebody was fully vetted two years ago, you don’t start from scratch.” He said Republicans seem to be holding up nominations as retribution for President Barack Obama’s executive order on immigration or to get back at Democrats for pushing through 11 judicial nominees during the December lame duck session just before the GOP took control of the Senate. Judge Restrepo’s nomination “is just the top of the iceberg. There are other inexcusably delayed vacancies,” Mr. Sugameli said. “It’s pretty clear there is massive slow-walking going on and it’s hurting people” in districts where cases are piling up faster than judges can hear them."

Political Maneuvers Holding Up Nominee for Third Circuit (Legal Intelligencer, 05/06/15)
"Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo, who took the bench in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania two years ago after a relatively quick confirmation process, is facing what is shaping up to be a drawn-out march to the Third Circuit ... When he was nominated last November, Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial vacancies for the Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C., said that his confirmation process will be a "classic litmus test" for the tenor of the new Republican-led Senate since Restrepo was a consensus nominee who had just been through the vetting process for the district court. This week, Sugameli called the state of Restrepo's nomination "mind-boggling." "This does not make sense politically. This does not make sense legally. This does not make sense rationally," he said."

Toomey supports Restrepo’s CA3 nomination. Now he’s blocking it. (CA3blog, 05/05/15)
"US Senator Pat Toomey is blocking a hearing on the Third Circuit nomination of L. Felipe Restrepo ... This is a shocking. In November, Toomey loudly endorsed Restrepo’s nomination ... in a press release ... A follow-up report by Jennifer Bendery ... on Huffington Post added [an] embarrassing exchange ... Mind-boggling. ... H/t Glenn Sugameli of Judging the Environment."

Senate must act on judicial vacancies (Herald News [Passaic County, NJ] , 05/03/15)
"Regarding "Lynch confirmed" (Editorials, April 27) and "Vote on AG not required" (Your Views, April 25): Readers should consider even longer and continuing delays in the U.S. Senate regarding action on nominees. Two district court judges were first nominated Sept. 18, nearly two months before Loretta Lynch, with strong support from their Texas and Utah Republican senators. ... U.S. District Judge Felipe Restrepo was nominated Nov. 12 on the bipartisan recommendation of his Pennsylvania senators. New Jersey’s senators need to press to move Restrepo and to fill four District of New Jersey vacancies, two of which have pending nominees. Empty judgeships mean justice delayed is justice denied for people and businesses." Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor

Senate must act on judicial vacancies (Record [NJ] , 05/01/15)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "Two District Court judges were first nominated Sept. 18, nearly two months before Loretta Lynch, with strong support from their Texas and Utah Republican senators. ... Senate GOP leadership keeps them in limbo, even though one would fill a courts-declared judicial emergency. Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has still not held a hearing on a nominee to fill an emergency on the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes New Jersey. U.S. District Judge Felipe Restrepo was nominated Nov. 12 on the bipartisan recommendation of his Pennsylvania senators. New Jersey's senators need to press to move Restrepo and to fill four District of New Jersey vacancies, two of which have pending nominees."

Finally a committee hearing for Restrepo nomination? (CA3blog, 04/30/15)
"The Senate Judiciary Committee has announced a nominations hearing for Wednesday, May 6. The committee has not yet announced which judicial nominees will be heard; I’m told by Glenn Sugameli of the Judging the Environment project that that announcement is expected sometime Friday. Sugameli told me he encourages those concerned to contact Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey to see if they have asked Chairman Grassley to include CA3 nominee L. Felipe Restrepo in the May 6 hearing."

Delays on both sides of the aisle (Washington Post, 04/29/15)
Glenn Sugameli, Judging the Environment, Letter to the Editor: "Republican Senate leaders are holding up two federal district court nominees, including one from Texas who was recommended by Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, both Texas Republicans, for a judicial emergency vacancy. They were nominated Sept. 18, nearly two months before Loretta Lynch was nominated to be attorney general, and the Senate Judiciary Committee approved them (and Ms. Lynch) on Feb. 26. There was no disagreement, and both cleared the committee on a unanimous voice vote with support from their home-state Republican senators."

Judge Al Bennett (Brains and Eggs blog, 04/15/15)
"Of the Lone Star state’s 11 federal judicial vacancies, nine are in district courts and two on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which reviews cases from Texas. That is one-fifth of 55 total current vacancies nationwide, according to Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial appointments for Judging the Environment, a Defenders of Wildlife project. Meanwhile, the nation faces a record backlog of more than 330,000 civil cases."

Al Bennett confirmed to federal district court (Off the Kuff blog [TX], 04/15/15)
"Of the Lone Star state’s 11 federal judicial vacancies, nine are in district courts and two on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which reviews cases from Texas. That is one-fifth of 55 total current vacancies nationwide, according to Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial appointments for Judging the Environment, a Defenders of Wildlife project. Meanwhile, the nation faces a record backlog of more than 330,000 civil cases."

Senate Unanimously Confirms Federal Judge for Texas (Gavel Grab [Justice at Stake blog], 04/14/15)
"The article said there are 55 judicial vacancies nationwide, according to Glenn Sugameli, who monitors judicial appointments for Judging the Environment, a Defenders of Wildlife project."

Texas judge gets past U.S. Senate logjam (San Antonio Express-News [TX] , 04/13/15)
Kevin Diaz: "Of the Lone Star state’s 11 federal judicial vacancies, nine are in district courts and two on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which reviews cases from Texas. That is one-fifth of 55 total current vacancies nationwide, according to Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial appointments for Judging the Environment, a Defenders of Wildlife project. Meanwhile, the nation faces a record backlog of more than 330,000 civil cases."

Texas judge gets past U.S. Senate logjam (Houston Chronicle, 04/13/15)
"Of the Lone Star state’s 11 federal judicial vacancies, nine are in district courts and two on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which reviews cases from Texas. That is one-fifth of 55 total current vacancies nationwide, according to Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial appointments for Judging the Environment, a Defenders of Wildlife project. Meanwhile, the nation faces a record backlog of more than 330,000 civil cases. Those pressing to speed the confirmation of federal judges represent an array of judicial, corporate, and special interest groups, including the Texas General Counsel Coalition."

WSJ covers SDFLA as "most productive court" (Southern District of Florida Blog, 04/07/15)
"Still, judicial vacancies are growing and the Senate isn't doing anything. Sen. Leahy is pissed: [quotes Leahy statement] H/T Glenn Sugameli”

Texas faces crisis of judicial vacancies (El Paso Times [TX], 04/06/15)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "Texas' senators must act now to help fill a West Texas federal court seat, as convincingly detailed in your editorial, "Move quickly to fill federal judge vacancy," and story, "Federal judges in West Texas want Pecos vacancy to be filled quickly." The Pecos vacancy is the tip of the iceberg; Texas is ground zero for the federal judicial vacancy crisis.... The U.S. courts have testified that Congress needs to create new judgeships. These include nine in Texas. Four new Western District of Texas judgeships are among those "sorely needed" in "districts struggling with extraordinarily high and sustained workloads." A belated April 13 Senate floor vote is set for only one of three re-nominees selected by Texas senators. All three were nominated on Sept. 18, 2014, and approved on Feb. 26 voice votes in the Judiciary Committee, which includes both Texas senators. Sens. Cornyn and Cruz are inexcusably guaranteeing lengthy vacancies by allowing floor vote delays, not recommending nominees for lengthy vacancies, and not even beginning the long process to fill the Pecos and other seats. Justice delayed continues to be justice denied for people and businesses in Texas, as overwhelming caseloads postpone decisions."

CQ Roll Call's Todd Ruger tweet (Congressional Quarterly, 03/26/15)
Historic: Obama picks Paula Xinis to be the first federal judge whose last name starts with X. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/26/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-united-states-district-courts … per @glennsugameli.

More judgeships in the SDFLA? (Southern District of Florida Blog, 03/17/15)
“The U.S. Courts Judicial Conference is recommending 3 more judgeship in our District. From the press release: … H/T Glenn Sugameli”

Restrepo nomination: the wait for a hearing goes on [updated] (CA3blog, 03/10/15)
"Judging the Environment has this helpful page with information on Restrepo’s nomination.... H/T Glenn Sugamelli, who since 2001 has headed Judging the Environment‘s judicial nominations project."

Are Judges on the Horizon for Pennsylvania's Federal Bench? (Legal Intelligencer, 03/03/15)
""Texas and Pennsylvania are pretty unique at this point," said Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial vacancies for the Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C., referring to the number of old vacancies with no officially named nominees, as is the case in the Western District. When U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, took over as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee at the start of this year, he indicated that he planned to maintain the same pace for moving consensus judicial nominees along to the full Senate for confirmation. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, who had been chair of the committee before Grassley, had held hearings for nominees roughly every two weeks. "That's not true already," Sugameli said of Grassley's intent for keeping up with moving nominees along. So far this year the committee has held one hearing for judicial nominees. Restrepo is not a controversial nominee, Sugameli said. He had the support of both Casey and Toomey when he was nominated to the district court in late 2012, he was confirmed by a voice vote in the Senate, and both home-state senators have, again, given him their support for his nomination to the Third Circuit."

Third Circuit opening is named a judicial emergency (CA3blog, 02/20/15)
"The emergency is for the seat that opened when Judge Scirica took senior status and that Judge Restrepo has been nominated to fill.... Paul Gordon of People for the America Way here lamented the CA3 emergency and criticized the Judiciary Committee’s failure to act more quickly on Restrepo’s nomination ... H/T Glenn Sugameli of Defenders of Wildlife."

Obama nominates Buffalo attorney to federal court (Daily Record [NY], 02/05/15)
"“Grassley himself has set forth what should be the test and expectation for action on these and other judicial nominations,” said Glenn Sugameli, founder and senior attorney at Judging the Environment, who has been researching judicial nominations since 2001. “He said two things on that: One of his priorities would be judicial nominations and the public shouldn’t expect a discernable difference in how he runs the committee.” Sugameli said under the leadership of Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the committee conducted hearings on judicial nominations almost every two weeks and that would be the expectation under Grassley. He said there are 11 nominees ahead of Vilardo and another judicial nomination the president announced Wednesday. Four have had hearings. Sugameli expects the Vilardo hearing to be scheduled for the spring.... Sugameli expects additional judicial nominations [could] be announced [as early as] next week"

Third Circuit Judge Rendell to Take Senior Status (Legal Intelligencer, 02/02/15)
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has since taken over as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and has indicated that he plans to maintain the same pace for moving consensus judicial nominees along to the full Senate for confirmation. When U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., was chair of the committee, he held hearings roughly every two weeks, said Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial vacancies for the Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C. ... if the same practice holds, Restrepo should be in the next batch of nominees to go in front of the committee, Sugameli said. There would be two district court nominees and another circuit court nominee in that group, so, it's conceivable that Restrepo could be held back since circuit nominees are typically under greater scrutiny and the committee will sometimes split them up, Sugameli said. However, he said, neither Restrepo nor the nominee to the Federal Circuit are controversial.... Unless he is confirmed by the full Senate before July, there will be two vacancies on the Third Circuit, which is relatively rare, Sugameli said. ... the Fifth Circuit, in Texas, has two empty seats with no nominees. "Texas and Pennsylvania are uniquely in the situation of having justice delayed being justice denied," Sugameli said, referring to the state of the federal judiciary in those states as a whole, including district court vacancies, and the length of time the seats have been open.

Texas candidates for federal bench caught up in partisan gamesmanship: Federal picks have been caught up in D.C. politics (San Antonio Express-News [TX] , 01/25/15)
Kevin Diaz: “There’s a severe problem in Texas,” said Glenn Sugameli, a senior attorney in the Defenders of Wildlife’s Judging the Environment project. “For years, Texas has been unique in having the highest number of vacancies across the country.”

Congress slow to fill federal bench in Texas (Houston Chronicle, 01/24/15)
Kevin Diaz: "Studies of the federal bench in Texas have found that the vacancies have left a backlog of more than 12,000 cases, raising the alarm not just among trial lawyers and legal activists but business groups as well. "There's a severe problem in Texas," said Glenn Sugameli, a senior attorney in the Defenders of Wildlife's Judging the Environment project. "For years, Texas has been unique in having the highest number of vacancies across the country.""

After 6-year wait, federal bench in S.A. is filled (San Antonio Express-News [TX] , 12/17/14)
“Finally confirming three judges to fill judicial emergency vacancies in Texas is a tip of the iceberg (and) first step toward easing the uniquely severe and prolonged federal judicial vacancy crisis in Texas,” said Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment and senior attorney for Defenders of Wildlife. “For people and businesses in Texas, justice delayed continues to be justice denied.”

After a Year’s Delay, Cruden Confirmed To Head Justice Department’s Environment Division (Main Justice, 12/17/14)
“GOP senators delayed and blocked unopposed nominations to fill lengthy vacancies because they were President Obama nominees,” said Glenn Sugameli, founder of the Judging the Environment project that follows judicial nominations of note to environmentalists. They were also delaying to protest the November 2013 vote by Democrats to change Senate rules to eliminate filibusters for most presidential nominees, he said.

Senate confirms three Texas judicial nominees (Herald Democrat [TX], 12/16/14)
“Confirming the three judges to fill judicial emergency vacancies in Texas is a tip of the iceberg,” said Glenn Sugameli, a senior attorney with Defenders of Wildlife, who has been tracking judicial nominations for more than a decade. Sugameli said that there has been an outcry from Texas federal judges, the U.S Courts, the American Bar Association and others stressing the need to nominate and confirm judges to reduce severe Texas judicial backlogs, caseloads, and a “vacancy crisis.”

Beetlestone Confirmed as Federal Judge in Eastern District  (Legal Intelligencer, 11/21/14)
Glenn Sugameli, senior attorney at the Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C., who keeps track of judicial vacancies, noted recent remarks from Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who sits on the Judiciary Committee, pushing for votes in the lame-duck session, which has, historically, been a time to "clear the decks" of non-controversial nominees....Now, Sugameli said, the question is whether the Republicans will allow nominees who were voted out of committee Thursday to be voted on by the full Senate in this lame-duck session.

Senate committee approves Texas judicial nominees (Dallas Morning News, 11/20/14)
Glenn Sugameli, an attorney for Defenders of Wildlife who also tracks judicial nominations, called Cornyn’s push for the nominees’ confirmations “encouraging.” “I’m certainly optimistic the nominees can and shoud be approved” by year’s end,” Sugameli said.

Senate Confirms Cohen, Ross and Abrams, to U.S. Bench  (Daily Report [GA], 11/19/14)
"Glenn Sugameli, a senior attorney for Defenders of Wildlife in Washington and founder of Judging the Environment, which conducts research to educate the public on the importance of lifetime federal judicial nominees, said that Tuesday night's voice votes on Cohen and Ross signal a possible thaw in relations between Senate Democrats and Republicans. "The voice votes are encouraging because they are the first voice votes since the filibuster rules were changed for judicial nominations," he said. "Obviously, when people come through committee unopposed, they are supported by the home state senators. Oftentimes they are filling judicial emergencies. There is no reason to delay for a filibuster vote … only to have them unanimously confirmed." "I don't know whether this is an exception … or whether this is a return to the normal practice of voice votes for unopposed nominations.""

New Eastern District Judge Nominated to Third Circuit (Legal Intelligencer, 11/14/14)
Restrepo's confirmation will be a "classic litmus test" for the tenor of the new Senate, said Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial vacancies for the Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C.... Given that approval from the home-state senators and the broad support Restrepo had for his confirmation to the district court, "It would be a real condemnation of the new Senate" if he doesn't move through the confirmation process smoothly, Sugameli said.... If the incoming Republican leadership holds to its recent statements about how it will conduct the next session, there's no reason that Restrepo shouldn't have a hearing when they come back at the beginning of the year, Sugameli said.... Sugameli called Restrepo a "no-brainer" for confirmation to the Third Circuit, saying, "I do not understand how there could be any reason to delay or block" him.

Federal judgeship appointments not expected until 2015 (Daily Record [NY], 11/14/14)
"It is not unusual for the nominations to still be pending months later, according to Glenn Sugameli, senior attorney and founder of Judging the Environment, who has headed its judicial nominations project since 2001. He said it takes time for the FBI to conduct its background checks and the American Bar Association to complete its review process. ... Sugameli said he understands Obama is expected to make some more nominations next week and that the good news is that Grassley has repeatedly said he looks forward to confirming consensus nominees .... He also pointed out Grassley has been clear that judicial emergencies should take precedent and that Western New York could become an emergency situation if left without an active judge in Buffalo in the beginning of the year. In addition, Sugameli said deference is often paid to the nominees of committee members and that Schumer is on the Judiciary Committee. “There are a number of senators who are up for re-election in two years who I think will have a lot of pressure to show that they are trying to act in areas where there can be agreement and judicial nominees certainly should be one of those areas,” Sugameli said. “Every senator has a constitutional duty to fill vacancies as soon as they can with qualified nominees.”"

Lame duck Senate moving on Georgia judges (Atlanta Journal Constitution, 11/12/14)
Daniel Malloy: Glenn Sugameli, who closely tracks judicial nominations for the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife, said the need for Reid to file cloture motions on the Georgia judges is “absurd.” He called the actions “knee-jerk obstruction for obstruction’s sake, when it hurts the people and businesses who need federal courts to decide cases, rather than (President Barack) Obama or Democratic senators.”

Charles Grassley brings charm, savvy to Senate Judiciary Committee (Los Angeles Times, 11/12/14)
Timothy M. Phelps: But even liberals such as Glenn Sugameli, who follows judicial nominations for the Defenders of Wildlife environmental group, believe that Grassley has the experience to run the committee. "The real issue is whether he will be willing to take action that is necessary to allow [Obama] nominees to have hearings," Sugameli said.

Halbig Review Won't End Debate Over What Obamacare Law Means (Forbes, 09/04/14)
Daniel Fisher, senior editor: "Glenn Sugameli of Judging the Environment informs me that while en banc rehearings typically only involve active judges, the rules also allow senior judges who were on the original panel to rehear the case. That changes the potential Republican/Democrat split to 5-8, but it would still be a majority of Democrat-appointed judges. ... Sugameli also notes that Obama only appointed three judges after Reid changed the filibuster rules.)"

Jill Pryor a step closer to the 11th Circuit (Updated) (Southern District of Florida Blog, 07/30/14)
"She will fill Judge Birch's seat which has been vacant for 1436 days! HT Glenn Sugameli"

District Court facing another vacancy (Daily Record [NY], 07/30/14)
Denise M. Champagne: "Glenn Sugameli, founder and senior attorney of Judging the Environment, who has been tracking the federal judiciary for more than a decade, said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been concentrating on trying to reduce the vacancy crisis and force votes on judges."

New Miami Federal Judge Among 10 Gay Nominees (Daily Business Review [FL], 07/25/14)
John Pacenti:"Glenn Sugameli, a senior attorney with Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, closely follows Obama's judicial nominees for the media. He said Rubio saw the writing on the wall when it came to Gayles."Notably, this was after Senator Rubio was condemned by Floridians and dozens of Florida editorials boards and commentators, he said."

Cloture filed on Julie Carnes and Robin Rosenberg (UPDATED) (Southern District of Florida Blog, 07/17/14)
David Markus: "Last night Senator Reid filed cloture on Carnes (candidate for the 11th) and Rosenberg (candidate for the SDFLA). Glenn Sugameli tells me that this means a final vote on these two judges is likely to occur early next week. ... UPDATE -- The full Senate vote for Carnes will be Monday and then the District Judges on Tuesday."

Amid Partisan Divide, Krause Seated on Third Circuit (Legal Intelligencer, 07/09/14)
Those 30 hours of debate after the cloture vote are more accurately called “30 hours of post-cloture delay,” said Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment, who tracks judicial vacancies....Clearly, this is a problem, Sugameli said.... "Reid has been focusing on judicial nominees," Sugameli said, also pointing to the upcoming election as putting pressure on his party. Of Krause, he said, it's "great that this vacancy has been filled," but there's still an empty seat on the Third Circuit; an empty seat in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, although that bench got four nominees in June; and three vacancies in the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Krause Sails to Seat on the Third Circuit (Legal Intelligencer, 07/07/14)
“This is obviously a good sign in terms of this nomination,” said Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment, who tracks judicial vacancies. He noted that there is still an empty seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Landmark Senate Confirmation For Black, Openly Gay Miami Judge Darrin Gayles (Daily Business Review [FL], 06/17/14)
"Glenn Sugameli, a senior attorney with Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, has taken on a watchdog role on Obama's judicial nominees. He said the vote on Gayles illustrates public discord over the need to fill a record number of judicial vacancies. "When Senator Rubio refused to even allow a committee hearing on the previous nomination of Judge William Thomas, it ignited major grassroots and media outrage," he said."

Republicans hold over vote for Judges Bloom & Gayles (Southern District of Florida Blog, 05/01/14)
David Markus: Ho hum... more of the same... and for no reason. Just because ... People for the American Way aren't happy with Sen. Rubio on this. I wish voters knew more about this wasteful and silly process. Good luck to Judges Bloom and Gayles next week! HT: Glenn Sugameli"

Nevada federal judge nominee advances over surprise opposition (Las Vegas Review-Journal, 04/03/14)
Steve Tetreault: ""The nominee is not in trouble,” said Glenn Sugameli, a public interest attorney who monitors nominations.... Sugameli, a senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife and head of the group’s judicial monitoring project, said Boulware could have been questioned at his confirmation hearing but wasn’t. “Grassley is shamelessly and unjustifiably blindsiding the nominee by relying on vague, alleged concerns that Grassley could have raised at the hearing when the nominee would have had a chance to explain,” he said."

NOMINATIONS: Senate confirms 9th Circuit appeals judge (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 04/01/14)
Jeremy P. Jacobs: "Glenn Sugameli of the Defenders of Wildlife noted that the 9th Circuit's vacancies are among the 34 judicial emergencies declared by the federal Judicial Conference. "Justice delayed is justice denied, as 9th Circuit and other federal judicial vacancies postpone needed court resolutions of important issues," Sugameli said. "Unfortunately, Senate GOP leaders continue unjustifiable delays of floor votes on dozens of pending judicial nominees, including those who were unopposed in committee and are strongly supported by their home-state Republican senators.""

Two Judges Join Eastern District in Close Confirmation  (Legal Intelligencer, 03/27/14)
Smith's relatively close confirmation is particularly "unusual in the nature of the opposition," Sugameli said. Even though Smith is a Republican, the 31 votes against him from Democrats were unusual because he was nominated by a Democratic White House, Sugameli said. ... Sugameli said the lack of debate was unusual considering the proportion of "no" votes recorded. It's "kind of strange to have no debate on either side, then a bunch of people voting no."

Sen. Rubio issues blue slip for Judge Gayles (Southern District of Florida Blog, 03/25/14)
David Markus: "Via the Huffington Post (ht Glenn Sugameli):"

Senate committee delays vote for Texas appellate nominee (Dallas Morning News, 03/13/14)
Glenn Sugameli, an attorney for Defenders of Wildlife who also tracks judicial nominations, said he was surprised that neither Cornyn nor Cruz prodded the committee for a swift confirmation of Costa. He noted that last month, Arizona Republican Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake did just that for six nominees. Arizona and Texas are among the states with designated emergency vacancies by the judicial branch.

Arkansas judicial nomination creeps to completion over Republican obstructionism (Arkansas Times, 03/05/14)
Max Brantley: "The nomination had been pending for months, delayed by a general Republican roadblock to judicial confirmation. The cloture vote to end obstruction of a confirmation vote for Brooks passed 59-41. His confirmation vote followed without a dissenting vote, 100-0. Earlier, Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy blasted the Republican obstruction again. It was clearly illustrated first by a 98-0 vote to confirm a Puerto Rican judge after 41 Republican senators voted to continue a filibuster on the nomination. Before a recent Democratic-backed rule change, those 41 votes would have been enough to block the confirmation vote, notes Glenn Sugameli, who follows the judicial process for Judging the Environment and sends me information along the way."

Glenn Sugameli comment on Keenan confirmed by Senate for 4th Circuit post (Washington Post, 03/02/14)
"Your description of the Senate’s 99-0 vote to confirm Judge Barbara Keenan to the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals after a long-delay reveals the degree of mindless obstructionism by Republican Senators. Even more telling is the fact that one or more unnamed Republican Senators refused to agree to a time limit on debate and forced a cloture vote to cut off a filibuster on Judge Keenan’s nomination, which was approved without dissent by the Judiciary Committee. Incredibly, the filibuster “debate” today proceeded without a single word spoken against the nominee, and the cloture vote to cut off the filibuster was also a unanimous 99-0!... Today's cloture vote demonstrates conclusively that "opposition" to confirming Judge Keenan was pure obstruction for the sake of obstruction. The delay, filibuster, and demand for a cloture vote continued despite Keenan’s bi-partisan support and the lack of any concerns about the merits of the nomination or the need to fill the seat."

Two Federal Judges Confirmed in NorCal (Courthouse News Service, 02/26/14)
Environmental lawyer Glenn Sugameli pointed out, however, that "32 of these vacancies without nominees are in states with one or two Republican senators whose 'blue slips' are required for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing under Chairman Patrick Leahy's policy." "Senators' incredibly slow judicial-nominating commissions have still not submitted any potential nominees to the White House for nine Pennsylvania vacancies, nine Texas vacancies and three Kentucky vacancies," added Sugameli, who heads a judicial nominations project called the Judging the Environment.

Jay Moody gets Senate Confirmation to Federal Judgeship (Arkansas Times, 02/25/14)
Max Brantley: "Thanks to Glenn Sugameli, who follows judicial nominations for the Judging the Environment judicial nomination project, for remarks from Sen. Mark Pryor during the debate on Moody's otherwise non-controversial appointment by President Obama:... UPDATE: The confirmation vote was 95-4. Which REALLY makes the Republican obstructionism clear."

Filling the District of Arizona Vacancies (Arizona Law Review, 02/24/14)
Carl Tobias: "I wish to thank Peggy Sanner and Glenn Sugameli for valuable suggestions"

Obama is light on recess appointing (Charleston Daily Mail [WV], 02/21/14)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "The Jan. 28 editorial, "Will the president show better listening skills?" states, "The president also is fighting at the U.S. Supreme Court to ignore the Constitution and bypass the U.S. Senate — claiming they are in recess when they are not — to make judicial nominations." In fact, the court case only involves Executive Branch recess appointments for a simple reason. As the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service reported, President Obama has never made a recess judicial appointment (unlike President G.W. Bush who made two, and Clinton who made one). The same report shows that as of June 4, 2013, Obama only made 32 executive recess appointments. This is far less than the executive and judicial recess appointments made by Presidents Reagan (232), George W. Bush (171), Clinton (139) and even one-term president George H.W. Bush (78). President Obama has routinely consulted very conservative home-state Republican senators and obtained their strong support to confirm consensus judicial nominees. Vacancies without nominees are concentrated in Kentucky, Texas and a few other states."

Pryor's reward for helping Republicans: obstructionism (Arkansas Times, 02/12/14)
Max Brantley: "U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor was one of a handful of Democrats who declined to support the so-called nuclear option, a rule change to eliminate the filibuster of judicial nominees. The thanks he got today? A Republican refused to grant him unanimous consent to win approval of the nominations of two non-controvesial judicial appointees — Judge Jay Moody of Little Rock and Timothy Brooks of Fayetteville. Glenn Sugameli, who heads the Judging the Environment judicial nominations project, sent me the exchange from the Senate floor. ...Why is Grassley punishing Arkansas, whose senators didn't support the rule change (he noted Pryor's vote) and whose senators, Democrat and Republican, support the nominees? ... Grassley is, of course, also a hypocrite. Sugameli notes that Grassley supported a nuclear option in 2005 when the shoe was on the other foot."

Records of Obama's Four D.C. Circuit Picks Offer Minimal Insight on Environmental Views  (BNA, 02/12/14)
Glenn Sugameli, an attorney with Defenders of Wildlife who runs Judging the Environment, a project that monitors federal judicial selection, told Bloomberg BNA that judges tend to relate to their former clients. From the perspective of environmental groups, the four new judges may not be the ideal picks because they don't have extensive backgrounds working for public interest groups, he said. “These are not necessarily the ideal nominees if the question is: Do we want to win cases?” Sugameli said. “But they are pretty much ideal if we want them to follow the facts, follow the Constitution and understand what's at stake.” Echoing sentiments expressed by other observers, Sugameli said the four Obama appointees are well-regarded in the legal world, and they understand administrative law, which is a large part of environmental law. They are dedicated to spending the time and effort to decide complex environmental cases, he said. “There's very good reason to believe that the decisions they write or join will be carefully written and will actually examine all the issues,” he said.

Reid calls for cloture vote on Jay Moody judicial nomination (Arkansas Times, 02/12/14)
"UPDATE on the Republican obstruction of judicial nominations, particularly as it relates to the nomination of Circuit Judge Jay Moody to a seat on the federal eastern district court bench in Little Rock. Thanks again to Glenn Sugameli and Carl Tobias for the heads-up:"

Two federal judges in Utah taking senior status: Utah’s federal court will have two openings for judges; Senate is slow to confirm nominations (Salt Lake Tribune [UT], 02/05/14)
Brooke Adams: Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment and a senior staff attorney with Defenders of Wildlife who monitors judicial nominations, said the vacancy rate would be drastically reduced if Senate Republicans would vote on 29 pending judicial nominees. "All 29 have been approved in the Judiciary Committee, most with the approval of all members, including both Utah senators," Sugameli said. "The continuing unprecedented judicial vacancy crisis is denying people and companies the access to judges they need to resolve a wide range of legal disputes."

WATCH: Craven Politican Throws Public Servant Under Bus For Personal Ambition! (South Florida Lawyers, 01/31/14)
"It's really a shame to see someone's reputation get tanked just to curry support from a desired constituency in order to seek higher office. (h/t Glenn Sugameli [LINK TO JUDGING THE ENVIRONMENT webpage on Sen. Rubio & Judge William Thomas)] BTW, on the "merits," this is what judges do -- it's shameful, really"

Flake, McCain Clear Way for Arizona Judicial Nominees (Congressional Quarterly, 01/27/14)
Glenn Sugameli, who follows judicial nominations closely as a staff attorney with the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife, said the Arizona district court has had high-profile judicial staffing problems for years. The court's former chief judge, John Roll, was waiting to speak with then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., about the heavy caseload when he was shot to death at a constituent meeting with the former lawmaker in 2011, Sugameli said. Giffords was gravely wounded in the attack, in which five other people died. "That's why he [died]," Sugameli said of Roll.

Obama's Federal Court Picks Clear Senate Hurdle (Recorder, 01/16/14)
Glenn Sugameli, an attorney who tracks judicial nominations for Defenders of Wildlife, said that under the old rules, nominees unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee would typically receive votes on the floor before the next Senate recess, which in this case occurs next week, or on the first day of resumption of business. He said it will be interesting to see if nominees who have now received unanimous committee votes will face delay tactics such as requests for the full two hours of debate on the Senate floor. Sugameli said he thought it was a good sign for Owens that only Grassley criticized his nomination, while other committee members such as Mike Lee of Utah held their tongues. "He's certainly not shy about speaking his mind, and he's from a neighboring state," Sugameli said. "Sometimes silence speaks volumes."

Letter to the Editor: Facts show filibuster letter was all wrong (Pocono Record [PA] , 01/10/14)
Glenn Sugameli: "Facts and history dispel the arguments in a Jan. 2 letter, "Filibuster change will haunt Democrats." The records of the actual nominees fatally undermine the charge that President Obama will "fill three judicial seats on Washington D.C.'s Circuit Court with liberal judges to do his bidding. They will rubber stamp any Obama legislation that comes before it." Patricia Millett was praised by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce's chief litigator. The second nominee was endorsed by arch-conservative Viet Dinh, and the third was previously confirmed unanimously by the Senate as a federal judge. The letter writer acknowledges that the 2005 Republican "nuclear option" threat to filibusters "was averted when a bipartisan compromise was reached." The recent Senate rules change, however, was triggered by Republican senators' repudiation of that compromise. Unprecedented filibusters had the declared intent and result of blocking votes on any possible Obama nominee to fill three D.C. Circuit vacancies, after Senate Democrats helped confirm four President George W. Bush judges to the court. The letter writer inexplicably concludes, "At least we will be spared the raking over the coals conservative justices like Robert Bork, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts and Samuel Alito have been put through. A simple majority will do." Bipartisan Senate simple majority votes rejected Bork and confirmed Thomas, Roberts and Alito to the Supreme Court."

Arkansas judicial nominations on Senate Committee agenda Thursday (Arkansas Times, 01/07/14)
Max Brantley: "That batch of federal judicial nominations resubmitted yesterday by President Obama are on the Senate Judiciary Committee agenda Thursday morning. They include Judge Jay Moody of Little Rock and Timothy Brooks of Fayetteville. Neither is considered controversial but Republican obstructionism has slowed all judicial nominations, controversial and otherwise. Thanks to Glenn Sugameli, who heads the Judging the Environment judicial nominations project, for the headsup."

Letter: Facts all wrong in Jensen column (Oneida Daily Dispatch [NY], 12/23/13)
By Glenn Sugameli, senior attorney, Defenders of Wildlife: "Rick Jensen’s Dec. 14 column on OneidaDispatch.com, “The liberals who killed Jimmy Stewart” overflows with factual errors and absurdities. The prior rule ended nominee filibusters with 60 votes, not “2-thirds of the Senate;” and Elena Kagan never served on the D.C. Circuit — because GOP senators denied her a hearing when President Clinton nominated her. The Senate rules change was not caused by Jimmy Stewart-inspired filibusters to “prolong the process of confirming President Obama’s appointments.” Instead, it was triggered by unprecedented filibusters with the declared intent and result of blocking votes on ANY possible Obama nominee to fill three D.C. Circuit vacancies, after Senate Democrats helped confirm four Bush judges to the court. Obama’s D.C. Circuit nominees will not “load up the court with Big Government liberals who believe the constitution is a flexible living document that can be ignored as they see fit.” One was endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce’s chief litigator, another by arch-conservative Viet Dinh, and the third was unanimously confirmed by the Senate as a federal judge."

Confirmation for N.Y.'s Elizabth A. Wolford is historic for multiple reasons (Daily Record [NY], 12/13/13)
"Glenn Sugameli, senior attorney and co-founder of Judging the Environment, said the number of “no” votes on both cloture and the merits of Wolford’s nomination were amazing, considering how strongly her nomination had been supported. He has headed his organization’s judicial nominations project since 2001. “It’s an indication of how obstructionist most of the Republicans are being in that this is the sort of nomination that normally would have been confirmed by voice vote, as it was in committee,” Sugameli said. “There was no opposition on the merits and it would have been confirmed awhile back. There’s a lot of obstruction still going on,” he added, pointing to the final delay Thursday morning. He said Republicans are complaining that Democrats are wasting time, yet they used up their post-cloture time talking about things that have nothing to do with the nominee being considered. Sugameli said Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, was wrong earlier this week when he said none of the pending nominees were judicial emergencies. The vacancy Wolford will fill was considered a judicial emergency based on caseloads. “It’s an emergency seat that should have been filled a long time ago,” Sugameli said. “It is a very bizarre situation where they’re really punishing the people and the businesses in the areas that don’t have enough judges. This doesn’t hurt the Democrats. “McConnell showed disinterest in the truth and finding out what the facts are. His statement was truly amazing for the amount of deception and outright lies.”"

Senate OKs Elizabeth Wolford as federal judge (Democrat and Chronicle [NY] , 12/12/13)
Brian Tumulty: "Glenn Sugameli, a senior lawyer at Defenders of Wildlife who tracks federal judicial nominations, interpreted the 29 votes against Wolford’s confirmation as a protest of the rules change. “There was not a word spoken on the merit of Wolford,” he said.

Senate Democrats played more fairly [Judging the Environment Letter to the editor] (Richmond Times-Dispatch [VA], 12/05/13)
Glenn Sugameli: "In April 2009, my Correspondent-of-the-Day letter explained: “The fact that the Constitution does not require filibusters does not mean they are forbidden.” Your recent editorial “Dambusters” agrees: “The Constitution does not mention filibusters. It neither authorizes nor bans them.” Unfortunately, the editorial mistakenly equates the transposed Senate Republican and Democratic positions on filibuster rules. Many Republican senators filibustered President Obama’s judicial nominations despite insisting it was unconstitutional to filibuster President George W. Bush’s nominees. In contrast, Senate Democrats did not execute unexplained flips on the Constitution. Instead, their policy change reflected unprecedented Republican decisions to filibuster any possible nominees for three Washington, D.C., Circuit Court vacancies after the Senate confirmed Bush judges to all three seats."

A 'nuclear option' was needed to overcome GOP obstructionists [Letter] (Baltimore Sun, 12/05/13)
Glenn Sugameli [Judging the Environment]: Commentator Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. rewrites recent history in his one-sided column on the Senate filibuster rule ("The nuclear option: then and now," Dec. 1). He utterly ignores the many Republican senators who filibustered President Barack Obama's judicial nominations after having insisted that it was unconstitutional to filibuster former GOP President George W. Bush's nominees. In contrast to these unexplained GOP flips on constitutional mandates, the positions of the Senate Democrats that Mr. Ehrlich quotes are quite consistent with the Constitution, which neither authorizes nor bans filibusters. The Democrats' rule change reflected the unprecedented Republican decision to filibuster any possible nominees for three D.C. Circuit Court vacancies"

A 'nuclear option' was needed to overcome GOP obstructionists [Letter] (Los Angeles Times, 12/05/13)
By Glenn Sugameli

A 'nuclear option' was needed to overcome GOP obstructionists [Letter] (Chicago Tribune, 12/05/13)
By Glenn Sugameli

11th Circuit Judge Dubina has taken senior status (Southern District of Florida Blog, 11/07/13)
David Markus: "It became official on his birthday October 26. (h/t Glenn Sugameli)."

With Friend in Tow, Circuit Nominee Gets Friendlier Reception [Former Justice O'Connor attends former clerk Michelle Friedland's Ninth Circuit Judiciary Committee Hearing (Recorder, 11/06/13)
Scott Graham: Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney with Defenders of Wildlife who closely tracks judicial nominations, said he could not recall any former high court justices attending confirmation hearings of their former clerks. "Perhaps as a result," he said, "I thought Sen. Grassley's questions were fairly muted and his responses to answers were more accepting than he often is with other judicial nominees."

It’s time for nuclear option in Senate to confirm nominees (Examiner, 11/03/13)
Robert Bowen, Economic Policy Examiner: ""While regular judges are split 4 to 4, Republican appointees make up 5 out of 6 senior judges, who also participate in three judge panels that decide nearly all cases,” Glenn Sugameli, Founder of Judging the Environment said. "Of President George W. Bush’s six nominees to the D.C. Circuit, four were confirmed (67%). Of President Obama’s five nominees to the D.C. Circuit, so far, only one has been confirmed (20%)," he added."

Senate Republicans Successfully Filibuster Millett Nomination for D.C. Circuit (Constitutional Law Prof Blog , 10/31/13)
Prof. Steven D. Schwinn: "UPDATE: Here's a link to the roll-call (h/t Glenn Sugameli)."

Owens Cruises Through Senate Judiciary Hearing (Recorder, 10/30/13)
Scott Graham: "Neither Crapo nor Risch submitted testimony for Wednesday's hearing, which Glenn Sugameli, an attorney who tracks judicial nominations for Defenders of Wildlife, took as a promising sign for Owens. University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias agreed."

Daniel Snyder's Best Possible Answer to Critics of the Redskins' Name: The owner could use this opportunity to talk about real reform when it comes to Native American issues. (Atlantic, 10/17/13)
Andrew Cohen column: "Why aren't we talking more about Arvo Mikkanen [links to Judging hte Environment website's page] ? Did you know that President Barack Obama nominated this lawyer, a Native American and member of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Oklahoma, for a spot on the bench two years ago? Did you know that Mikkanen, a Yale Law School graduate and former tribal judge, never even received a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee or a public explanation for why such a hearing never occurred? Where was the national debate back then when Oklahoma's federal lawmakers simply vanished the nominee?"

Justice Watch: Legal Community Puts Pressure On Rubio To Stop Blocking Judge (Daily Business Review [FL], 09/27/13)
John Pacenti: "Glenn Sugameli, a senior attorney with Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, closely follows Republican stalling on Obama's judicial nominees. He said Rubio's opposition to Thomas is puzzling since he voted this month to unanimously approve the nomination of Todd Hughes as the first openly gay appeals judge. "Now that prosecutors in both of the cases Sen. Rubio cited have dispelled concerns, it is time for the senator to meet with Judge Thomas again and allow a hearing where the nominee can explain and answer questions," he said. Sugameli said there is a racial and gender pattern to the nominees targeted by Republicans. "If you look at who Republican senators have blocked, it has been overwhelmingly minorities and women," he said."

Does Senator’s silence signal dark motives? (NC Policy Watch, 09/25/13)
"Burr’s action (or lack thereof) is not going unnoticed in the nation’s capital. Veteran D.C. court watcher and environmental policy advocate Glenn Sugameli put it this way to Blythe: “To believe you would block someone in a district that’s had a vacancy for that long, that’s pretty shocking, amazing and appalling. It’s a festering boil. It’s an open embarrassment for Sen. Burr – or it should be.”"

Will Thomas update (Southern District of Florida Blog, 09/24/13)
David Markus: "Sen. Rubio is under more fire for his recent decision to block Judge Thomas. The NY Times is covering the story, and Fred Grimm has this excellent editorial in the Herald. Here's the conclusion, which rebuts Rubio's argument about the sentence in the leaving the scene of the accident case ... if you want to read any of the letters referenced in the Grimm article, you can access them at Glenn Sugameli's website." [Link to JudgingtheEnvironment.org]

Longest Running Judicial Vacancy in Nation: More Than 2,800 Days Old (Gavel Grab [Justice at Stake blog], 09/23/13)
"Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment, told the newspaper, “To believe you would block someone in a district that’s had a vacancy for that long, that’s pretty shocking, amazing and appalling. It’s a festering boil. It’s an open embarrassment for Sen. Burr – or it should be.”"

NC's Eastern District judicial vacancy is longest in the nation (News & Observer [NC], 09/20/13)
Anne Blythe: "Glenn Sugameli, founder of Judging the Environment, an organization that tracks federal vacancies and the impact they can have on civil court calendars and environmental lawsuits, said he has been baffled by the stall in North Carolina’s Eastern District. ... “To believe you would block someone in a district that’s had a vacancy for that long, that’s pretty shocking, amazing and appalling,” Sugameli said Friday. “It’s a festering boil. It’s an open embarrassment for Sen. Burr – or it should be.” Sugameli said what complicates the continued vacancy is the silence from Burr as to why he has not submitted his blue slip. “At this point, I think there’s an obligation for the senator to explain,” Sugameli said. “Once you know what the problem is you can start to address it. When all you have is total silence, that makes it more difficult.”"

D.C. Circuit Nominee Pillard Likely to Face Toughest Road to Confirmation (Congressional Quarterly, 09/11/13)
John Gramlich: "Glenn Sugameli, an attorney with the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife and a close observer of judicial nominees, said in an email that Grassley’s questions about “isolated, unattributed partial quotations” from Pillard were “efforts to trick Wilkins.” A liberal legal advocate privately told CQ Roll Call that the questions appeared to be an attempt to turn one of Obama’s D.C. Circuit nominees against another."

COURTS: EPA air cases on deck as Obama appointee joins D.C. Circuit bench  (Greenwire, 09/06/13)
Srinivasan is "clearly very bright, extremely qualified and he has a mass of experience," said Glenn Sugameli, who tracks the D.C. Circuit for Defenders of Wildlife. "And he's relatively young. He is in a position where he could have a big influence on the court." Standing is a "very broad, sweeping issue," Sugameli said. "It tends to be more of a potential constitutional barrier to Congress' clear intent to give citizens the right to enforce environmental statutes. ... So those cases can be critical."

Ninth Circuit Nominees Face Uncertain Prospects: Confirmation may be a struggle for the two Munger Tolles partners recently tapped by Obama. (Recorder, 08/30/13)
Glenn Sugameli, an attorney at Defenders of Wildlife who tracks judicial nominations closely, said he thinks that argument would resonate with other senators. "If every time a judge moved chambers it would move the seat to another state, I've got to think senators wouldn't like that precedent," he said.

D.C. Circuit -- at heart of nomination battle -- has handed major victories to EPA  (Greenwire, 08/26/13)
Glenn Sugameli, who tracks the D.C. Circuit for Defenders of Wildlife, said EPA should do well at the D.C. Circuit because of the Supreme Court's ruling in 1984's Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. The ruling said that as long as EPA interpreted the law reasonably in crafting regulations, courts should defer to the agency. But opinions like Kavanaugh's in the CSAPR case, Sugameli said, can have an outsized impact. "The major issue is, even if you have a series of pretty good or decent opinions, one really bad opinion can be so bad on the facts or so bad on the law that you're inviting a series of challenges," Sugameli said. Environmentalists argue that Obama must fill the vacancies on the circuit so rulings like the CSAPR decision are reviewed by the circuit en banc, meaning before all of the circuit's judges. After a decision, the losing party may petition for an en banc review. It takes the votes of a majority of active judges on the circuit to grant such a request. Sugameli and other environmentalists contend that if the court had been more balanced at the time, the CSAPR decision would have earned en banc review because of Rogers' forceful dissent. "You don't have enough judges to have the mass that's required to rein in very extreme opinions," Sugameli said.

Nonpartisan Judgeship Plan Meets Partisan Senate Debate over D.C. Circuit (Congressional Quarterly, 08/19/13)
The “one source of impartial expertise” on court caseloads is the Judicial Conference, said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney with the environmental advocacy group Defenders of Wildlife ...l. The Republican proposal to shrink the D.C. Circuit ignores the conference’s nonpartisan recommendations and is a partisan attempt to prevent Obama’s nominees from being confirmed, Sugameli said, calling the plan “absurd on its face.” ... “I don’t know what people like Cornyn and Cruz and Flake are going to do,” Sugameli said. “They have severe needs in their states.”

Spat between California and Idaho politicians could endanger 9th Circuit nominee: Senators from the two states call dibs on Stephen Trott's former circuit seat (Daily Journal [CA] , 08/05/13)
John Roemer: "Glenn Sugameli, a veteran Washington, D.C. attorney who is an authority on judicial selections, said, "This dispute needs to be resolved, and quickly, for the good of our judicial system and for the litigants who come before the 9th Circuit. The idea that a seat changes states when a judge moves would be rejected by any senator from the original home state, and based on history, population or caseload the Trott seat should be based in California." He noted that Smith occupies Idaho's original seat, fulfilling a statute that guarantees every state at least one circuit judge."

President Obama moves to fill the 9th Circuit Court  (Represent! Blog: 89.3 KPCC: Southern California Public Radio, 08/02/13)
Kitty Felde" Glenn Sugameli, senior attorney of Defenders of Wildlife and a federal court observer says "filling both seats is necessary, but is not enough to ensure that justice delayed does not continue to be justice denied.""

Judicial happenings (Southern District of Florida Blog, 08/01/13)
Glenn Sugameli breaks the news again about federal judgeships: A) New future vacancy raises US total to 101 current and future vacancies B) Major bill to create 91 new federal judgeships, including many in FL How will this bill affect us: Permanent judgeships: • 3 additional district judgeships for the southern district of Florida; • 5 additional district judgeships for the middle district of Florida; • 1 additional district judgeship for the northern district of Florida; Temporary judgeships: • 1 additional district judgeship for the middle district of Florida; Permanent status to temporary judgeships: • 1 in the southern district of Florida;

Millett’s nomination clears committee hurdle, now heads to full Senate (Legal Newsline, 08/01/13)
JESSICA M. KARMASEK: "Glenn Sugameli, who has headed the Judging the Environment judicial nominations project since 2001, said Thursday Severino’s reliance on a selective quote from an unnamed judge ignores the fact that the court needs all of its 11 active judgeships, as reiterated by the Judicial Conference of the U.S. Judgeship Recommendations and Draft Legislation in April. “Ms. Severino absurdly claims that filling existing vacancies would be ‘a court packing plan designed to turn a highly regarded court into a political rubber stamp for President Obama’s unconstitutional regulatory rampage.’ She cannot explain how this claim relates to Patricia Millett’s nomination, which no senator opposes on the merits and which is endorsed by Robin S. Conrad, a retired Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice-President who had a 30-year tenure at the National Chamber Litigation Center, the public policy law firm of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States,” Sugameli said in a statement. The Chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform owns Legal Newsline. “If the GOP were ‘applying the same rules Democrats used,’ as Ms. Severino claims, that would require approving President Obama’s three pending D.C. Circuit nominees for a total of four, including one to the court’s 11th seat, just as a Democratic Senate did for President George W. Bush,” Sugameli said."

GOP DC Circuit Strategy, Revisisted (A plain blog about politics, 07/26/13)
Jonathan Bernstein: Glenn Sugameli writes to me after I wrote this one, saying: "I watched Pillard’s hearing, and read all of the broad-ranging letters to the Senate on her nomination, and every article, opinion piece, blog post, and Senator Statement on her nomination, and as a result I agree with much of your post , but strongly disagree with this portion: “with lots of hot-button issues in her writings for them to attack. …. Pillard, however, will have serious opposition, and it's probably more likely than not that she'll be killed by filibuster.” At her hearing, only three Judiciary Committee Republicans (Grassley, Lee and Cruz) really grilled Pillard (and ignored how their misconceptions and distortions that were dispelled by her testimony and prior writings). Sen. Flake asked good questions and seemed pretty satisfied with her answers. I strongly conclude that there NOT are “lots of hot-button issues in her writings for them to attack.” [...] As for a filibuster, Sen. Murkowski [R-AK] always opposes them on judicial nominees, McCain, THE key player on filibusters has disavowed filibusters on the D.C. Circuit nominees and one cosponsor of Grassley’s bill (Collins) wrote an Op-Ed that she would not filibuster on that basis and another (Graham) said he is uncertain." He sends along too a link to his extremely thorough and helpful site [LINK].

Sen. Nelson issues blue slip for William Thomas, but Sen. Rubio still holding out (Southern District of Florida Blog, 07/26/13)
David Oscar Markus: "HT: Glenn Sugameli, who has all the info on Judge Thomas at his website [link]."

COURTS: Republicans escalate opposition to D.C. Circuit nominee (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 07/25/13)
Glenn Sugameli of Defenders of Wildlife said Republicans may stick to criticizing the nominations together because they have yet to dig up anything substantial about them as individuals. "The focus has tended to be on the group, and I think that is because they don't have anything believable against Millett and anything meaningful against Pillard," he said. But he predicted Republicans may back down as they take flak from editorial boards and others over their intransigence. Independent fact checkers have said Republicans' court packing claims are inaccurate and misleading. "As it becomes higher-profile," he said, "I don't see how they stick with this position."

Federal JNC to interview for two open judicial seats, not just one  (Southern District of Florida Blog, 07/18/13)
David Oscar Markus: " it's time for William Thomas to be confirmed to the federal bench. This is just getting absurd already (his nomination has been pending 263 days) ... Judge Thomas is one of the most respected state court judges that we have. It's not right that he's been waiting so long....Glenn Sugameli always has the scoop on this stuff, and is tracking the lengthy delay for Judge Thomas, which will hopefully end soon."

COURTS: Judiciary panel to consider D.C. Circuit nominee (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 07/08/13)
Discusses and links to letter, posted on Judging the Environment website, from seven former U.S. Solicitor Generals, supporting Patricia Millett D.C. Circuit nomination.

Compilation of Shelby County statements (Election Law Blog, 06/30/13)
Rick Hasen tweet: "ELB: Compilation of Shelby County statements: Glenn Sugameli, at Judging the Environment, has… http://goo.gl/fb/Sx9Dz"

Compilation of Shelby County statements (Election Law Blog, 06/30/13)
Justin Levitt: "Glenn Sugameli, at Judging the Environment, has put together a thorough compilation of statements and reactions to Shelby County from officials and editorial boards. Researchers investigating the immediate media reaction to Shelby County will likely find this list of links quite helpful."

Environmentalists Back D.C. Circuit Nominees Despite Wilkins' EPA Record (Inside EPA, 06/04/13)
“The [confirmation] fight is going to be over the need to slash the court by a third,” says a source with the Judging the Environment Project, a group that tracks judicial nominees' environmental records.... The source with the Judging the Environment project says filling the slots is important, citing an April 5 report from the Judicial Conference of the United States, which found that the court needs 11 judges to issue timely and well-reasoned decisions. The source adds all three nominees have “an enormous amount of experience” with administrative law and constitutional law, which are the underpinning of the environmental statutes. The source said there is little information out there that is critical of the nominees."

COURTS: Obama nominates 3 to D.C. Circuit  (Greenwire, 06/04/13)
"The Grassley bill is a joke," said Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial nominations for Defenders of Wildlife. "The D.C. Circuit has an exclusive or leading role in upholding or gutting a broad range of national environmental safeguards."

COURTS: Senate unanimously confirms D.C. Circuit nominee (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 05/23/13)
Environmentalists have closely watched Srinivasan's nomination and have criticized Republicans for holding up D.C. Circuit nominees. No judge has been confirmed to the circuit since 2006, and President George W. Bush was far more effective in filling the court's vacancies than Obama has been. "The D.C. Circuit needs 11 judges to issue timely and well-reasoned decisions on a broad range of national environmental safeguards where the court has exclusive jurisdiction or a leading role," said Glenn Sugameli of Defenders of Wildlife.

COURTS: Confirmation vote for D.C. Circuit nominee possible by tomorrow (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 05/22/13)
"Timely and well-reasoned decisions on national environmental, health, safety, consumer, labor and other safeguards require filling all four vacancies on the 11-member D.C. Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals," said Glenn Sugameli of the Defenders of Wildlife.

Courts: Obama's pick for D.C. Circuit set for Senate hearing  (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 04/09/13)
Jeremy P. Jacobs: ""The bottom line is this is extremely important for conservation and environmental groups because this is the court that has exclusive authority to decide, under major environmental statutes, what will be the protections for people, wildlife and the environment," said Glenn Sugameli, an attorney with Defenders of Wildlife who follows judicial nominations closely. "In many cases, it's a mini-Supreme Court," he added. "If you can't confirm Sri, who are you going to confirm?" Sugameli asked."

Letter: Sen. Hatch's article on voting 'present' is disingenuous (Deseret News [UT] , 04/07/13)
Glenn Sugameli: "Sen. Orrin Hatch's "My View" is disingenuous ("Why I voted 'present' instead of 'no,' " March 26). He repeatedly insisted that President George W. Bush's judicial nominees receive "up-or-down vote[s], as the Constitution requires." His claim of consistency is belied by actions to deny President Barack Obama's judicial nominees such a vote. Sen. Hatch admits that because cloture to end a filibuster "requires a super majority of 60 …, 'present' and 'no' have the same procedural effect," but failing to vote also has the same effect. In 2012, his failure to vote was almost decisive, when a judge supported by Arizona Republican senators received the minimum 60 votes to end a filibuster. In 2011, his "present" supported an unprecedented attempt to filibuster a trial judge, while 11 principled Republicans voted for cloture and "no" on the merits. Sen. Hatch writes: "Three times, I have voted 'present' on a motion to end debate on a particularly controversial nominee. … I have not cast such a vote on a failed judicial nominee in more than a year." But his March 2013 "not voting" helped deny Caitlin Halligan an up-or-down vote, and his July 2012, "present" supported an unprecedented filibuster of a consensus judge who was confirmed unanimously in February 2013."

Courts: Republicans again block D.C. Circuit nominee  (Greenwire, 03/06/13)
Jeremy P. Jacobs: "Environmental groups immediately criticized Republicans. Glenn Sugameli of Defenders of Wildlife, who tracks judicial nominations, said the Republican arguments against Halligan were "dishonest and clearly erroneous." He echoed Schumer's claims that Republicans were simply trying to avoid "allowing any balance" on the D.C. Circuit."

D.C. Circuit Nominee Blocked, Raising Fears Over Slow Rulings On EPA Rules  (Inside EPA, 03/06/13)
"Environmentalists say the concern is especially relevant given the court's role in reviewing many EPA rules and policies. A source with the advocacy project Judging the Environment points to the Aug. 21 decision from a three-judge panel vacating EPA's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) interstate emissions trading program, arguing that additional judges on the court could have resulted in EPA and advocates winning en banc review where the full court would have reconsidered what the source says is the "flawed" 2-1 opinion. ... The source says more broadly that both the speed with which the court can make a decision as well as the quality of the decision are both negatively affected by the lack of judges on the bench. More judges, the source argues, mean more time to write careful opinions that can deal with all the issues involved in a way that all parties in the case can understand how the issues are resolved, helping district judges work through future cases as well. And in terms of timing, the source argues that less time in reviewing air rules that are ultimately upheld mean less delays in implementing rules, which leads to lives saved from the pollution reduced under the rule. The environmentalist notes that poor decisions from an overworked court can have broad impacts, and that a court at less than full strength is limited in reviewing cases en banc given that a majority is needed to agree to rehearing. "If they [mess] something up, it's national in scope," the source says."

COURTS: Senate Judiciary panel approves D.C. Circuit nominee  (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 02/15/13)
"The D.C. Circuit is the nation's second most important court, with exclusive or primary authority to decide whether a broad range of national environmental and health safeguards will be struck down or upheld and enforced," said Glenn Sugameli, who follows judicial appointments at Defenders of Wildlife. He added it is "essential" for Obama to fill the vacancies. "Obama is the first president in many decades with no D.C. Circuit judges," Sugameli said. "In contrast, a Democratic Senate confirmed four of President George W. Bush's nominees, including to the 10th and 11th seats."

COURTS: Liberals push Obama to restock powerful D.C. Circuit  (Greenwire, 02/06/13)
Jeremy P. Jacobs: "The D.C. Circuit is the second most important court for the environment in the country after the Supreme Court," said Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial nominations for Defenders of Wildlife. "For the vast majority of the cases, it has the final say for safeguards for air, water and other toxic threats. The court is at a point where it desperately needs new judges."

Judging the Environment (SierraActivist, 01/29/13)
Reproduces Legal Planet post

Judging the Environment (Legal Planet: The Environmental Law & Policy Blog, 01/29/13)
Jonathan Zasloff: "Covering the Senate Republicans’ continuing obstruction of judicial nominees is about as exciting as watching paint dry, but the good folks at Defenders of Wildlife, one of the nation’s most venerable environmental organizations, have decided to invest in doing it, with their vital blog, Judging The Environment. It’s run by staff attorney Glenn Sugameli. ... Judging the Environment is useful for another reason: it continually highlights how Senate Republicans are not just blocking “controversial” nominees, but uncontroversial ones — nominees that have the support of both home state Senators, even extremely and radically right-wing home state Senators. ... Usually, in the wake of a clear an convincing election victory, minority party Senators will defer at least a little to the will of the public — especially if the President nominates indisputably centrist judges. But the Senate GOP is not interested in such things. That’s why Judging the Environment is an important source going forward. Check it out."

U.S. appeals court nominee Robert E. Bacharach may have to be nominated again next year: Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn blames “inside politics” for possibility that Bacharach, who has strong bipartisan support, might not be confirmed this year (Oklahoman, 12/23/12)
Attorney Glenn Sugameli, who tracks the judicial process for the Washington-based Judging the Environment Project, said it was “insane” that a nominee like Bacharach, “who is absolutely unopposed,” can’t get a vote. “Is there any reason not to vote on him now?” Sugameli said. “There is no reason.”

Geraci’s nomination confirmed by Senate (Daily Record [NY], 12/14/12)
Six judges have been confirmed since the lame duck session began Nov. 13, according to Glenn Sugameli, senior attorney for Defenders of Wildlife and founder and director of Judging the Environment, who has been closely following the federal judiciary for more than a decade. “I think they’re finally moving, at least on the District Court nominees,” he said, noting Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who opposed many nominations when they came before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, has said he expects a lot of nominees to be confirmed. Sugameli said Judge Geraci has been rated very well qualified and received broad support. “There’s no reason he should not have been confirmed a long time ago,” he said. ... “Most of the ones that are still pending are judicial emergencies,” said Sugameli. “There’s no reason not to fill those seats. The obstruction has gotten to the point where it’s just meaningless.” Sugameli said there is also mounting pressure to get nominations confirmed with letters sent to the Senate by the federal and American bar associations and newspaper editorials throughout the country calling for action. “There’s been a lot of commentary around the country saying this is an example of mindless obstruction and just vote; just do it,” Sugameli said.

Obama presented with opportunity to shape DC Circuit with new vacancy (SNL FERC Power Report, 12/12/12)
"I certainly think he can have an ability to moderate the court," Glenn Sugameli, senior attorney with Defenders of Wildlife and an expert on federal judicial selection, said Dec. 7. "He has the responsibility to put four judges in the court. That could obviously change the court and influence the court for some time to come. Sugameli said that with Democrats' gains in the Senate in the November elections, Obama will have an easier road ahead filling the court's empty seats. Failure to fill all the seats in the D.C. Circuit, asserted Sugameli, can have negative consequences. With fewer active judges, securing an en banc review by the D.C. Circuit - obtained through a majority of the active judges voting for it - is harder, he said. The vacancies could undermine attempts by the EPA to get an en banc review of the D.C. Circuit's decision to toss out the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule on the grounds that the EPA overreached in how it set limits on power plant emissions."

Letter to the editor: More skirmishes over 'confirmation wars' (Shreveport Times [LA], 12/09/12)
From Glenn Sugameli, founder and director, Judging the Environment

Letter to the editor: More skirmishes over 'confirmation wars' (Des Moines Register [IA], 12/09/12)
Glenn Sugameli, founder and director, Judging the Environment: Marc Elcock’s Iowa View “Obama Can Quell Confirmation Wars” (Dec. 4) attacks an imaginary version of “Grassley Has a Chance To Quell Confirmation Wars” (Nov. 27) that was written by professor Carl Tobias. Tobias accurately wrote that Senate Republicans have “automatically held over panel votes for seven days without convincing reasons for many nominees who were extremely capable and noncontroversial.” Elcock quotes the last four words out of context. He then misreads “many nominees” as if it was “all nominees” in order to contest a straw man claim that Tobias never made, “the assertion that Obama’s nominees were all noncontroversial.” Elcock ignores Tobias’ focus on pending judicial nominees. Will Sen. Chuck Grassley convince Senate Republicans to allow votes to confirm 17 judges? These include 14 whom Grassley and the Judiciary Committee approved on voice votes and 10 who would fill “judicial emergency” vacancies. Incredibly, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is ignoring pleas from Oklahoma, Maine, and Pennsylvania home-state Republican senators. As the Register’s Aug. 7 editorial described, unopposed 10th Circuit Court of Appeals nominee Robert Bacharach has “the strong support of both home-state senators, Republicans Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma.”

Letter to the editor: More skirmishes over 'confirmation wars' (Iowa City Press-Citizen, 12/09/12)
From Glenn Sugameli, founder and director, Judging the Environment

Letter to the editor: More skirmishes over 'confirmation wars' (Altoona Herald-Index [IA], 12/09/12)
From Glenn Sugameli, founder and director, Judging the Environment

Judge Frank Geraci Jr. awaits Senate confirmations (Democrat and Chronicle [NY] , 12/09/12)
"Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney for Defenders of Wildlife who also follows judicial nominations closely, said some of the pending judicial nominees are supported by home-state Republican senators in Pennsylvania, Maine and Oklahoma. "I haven't heard a single explanation from any Republican senator as to any reason why there shouldn't be immediate votes on all of these nominees, especially the ones that are unopposed," Sugameli said.""

McConnell blocking judicial nominations (Contra Costa Times [CA] , 12/08/12)
Letter to the Editor from Glenn Sugameli, Founder and director Judging the Environment

McConnell blocking judicial nominations (San Jose Mercury News [CA], 12/08/12)
Letter to the Editor from Glenn Sugameli, Founder and director Judging the Environment: California federal courts are especially clogged because of Senate Republican filibusters that have "halted the nominations of nearly two dozen judicial appointments, causing backlogs in courts that delay justice for people and businesses across the country," ("Senate should go back to the future on filibuster reform," Editorial, Dec. 4). Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., continues to block votes to confirm 17 judicial nominees, including 14 whom the Judiciary Committee approved on voice votes. All four pending California nominees would fill vacancies that the U.S. courts have declared to be "judicial emergencies." Last week, the Senate GOP inexplicably delayed committee votes on five nominees, including another for a California judicial emergency. Incredibly, Sen. McConnell is even ignoring pleas for votes by both home-state Republican senators from Oklahoma and both from Maine, as well as from Sens. Bob Casey, D.-Pa., and Pat Toomey, R.-Pa. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, also strongly supports confirming Patty Shwartz, his state's nominee to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Judicial nominees still languish in Senate (Baltimore Sun, 12/07/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: John Fritze's recent article on the appointment of U.S. Magistrate Paul W. Grimm to a U.S. District Court seat ("Senate confirms Towson resident Grimm for U.S. judgeship," Dec. 4) reported the key point: Senate gridlock delayed action even though Paul Grimm's February nomination was "uncontroversial — members of both parties supported him." Indeed, U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski urged swift action on other judicial nominees, 15 of whom were reported by voice vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate Republican leaders, however, are still blocking votes to confirm 17 judges. They have even ignored pleas for long-overdue votes by both home-state Republican senators from Oklahoma and both from Maine, as well as from Pennsylvania's Bob Casey, a Democrat, and Pat Toomey, a Republican. New Jersey GOP Gov. Chris Christie also strongly supports confirming Patty Shwartz, his state's nominee to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Senate Moving on Stalled Judicial Nominees (National Law Journal, 12/06/12)
"Glenn Sugameli, who follows judicial nominations for Judging the Environment and Defenders of Wildlife, said there is still plenty of time for votes on all remaining district and circuit court nominees. "It is hard to believe that Senator [Mitch] McConnell can continue to ignore pleas for votes by both home-state Republican senators from Oklahoma and both from Maine, as well as from Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.),” Sugameli said in an email."

Is Eastern District Nominee Troy Nunley Getting Closer To Senate Confirmation? (Eastern District Blog [CA], 12/06/12)
Reprints NLJ post quoting "Glenn Sugameli, who follows judicial nominations for Judging the Environment and Defenders of Wildlife"

Chief Judge Sentelle to Take Senior Status (D.C. Circuit Review, 11/30/12)
"[W]ith four of the D.C. Circuit’s 11 seats seats vacant, President Obama will have an opportunity to significantly remake the court. (H/T Glenn Sugameli)"

Courts: Judge opens door for Obama by taking senior status (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 11/30/12)
"Glenn Sugameli, a lawyer at Defenders of Wildlife who tracks judicial nominations, said the vacancy "demonstrates the urgency to bring the vital D.C. Circuit appeals court back to the 11-judge strength that it had when the Democratic Senate confirmed four of President George W. Bush's nominees to that court.""

Judge Thomas nomination as a federal judge in the SD FL (South Florida Lawyers, 11/15/12)
"First off, congrats to Judge Thomas for his nomination as a federal judge in the SD FL. A great pick! And here's Senator Leahy on the clogged federal judicial nomination process: ... (h/t Glenn Sugameli)"

Judge William Thomas officially nominated to District Court  (Southern District of Florida Blog, 11/14/12)
David Oscar Markus: This is great news and fast. Let's hope that this is how it's going to be in the President's second term. Here is President Obama's press release: ... HT: Glenn Sugameli

Why Courts Matter: What the 2012 Election Means for 2013 and Beyond (Center for American Progress, 11/08/12)
Doug Kendall, Founder and President, Constitutional Accountability Center: “Glenn [Sugameli, Judging the Environment] does an incredible job of tracking every piece of press about this issue that’s out there and putting them on his website. It is an incredible resource for the entire community that’s interested in this. He really has collected a ton of editorial press.”

SUPREME COURT: Speculation starts on retirements, nominations in Obama's second term (Greenwire, 11/08/12)
"The Supreme Court is narrowly and deeply divided on constitutional and other challenges to basic environmental laws," said Glenn Sugameli, a lawyer at Defenders of Wildlife who tracks judicial nominations.

Why Courts Matter: What the 2012 Election Means for 2013 and Beyond (Center for American Progress, 11/08/12)
Center for American Progress' Ian Millhiser: “I endorse everything that was said on the importance of home-state papers and the good work that Glenn [Sugameli, Judging the Environment] and others are doing to make that happen.”

Why Courts Matter: What the 2012 Election Means for 2013 and Beyond (Center for American Progress, 11/08/12)
Caroline Fredrickson, President, American Constitution Society: “I want to commend Glenn [Sugameli, Judging the Environment]for everything you do which is so important. People need to understand that Glenn doesn’t just compile; Glenn actually makes sure these editorials happen. He writes Letters to the Editor to newspapers across the country. We saw the cumulative effect of that in terms of political impact. I’m sure my friends from Sen. Leahy’s office know this well; when I was chief of staff to Sen. Maria Cantwell, what your home-state paper says really counts, so the efforts to get Editorials, to get opinion pieces, to get Letters to the Editor is one of the major things that moves senators.”

Animal protection law includes wildlife habitats [PRINT HEADLINE: Destroying a habitat can destroy an animal] (Examiner, 10/07/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: Re: "Scalia slams reach of Endangered Species Act," Washington Secrets, Oct. 4 A correction to Paul Bedard's column is needed to let readers know who cannot be trusted on basic facts: Bedard, Justice Scalia or both. Bedard writes that Scalia mocked "the EPA's decision to expand the act beyond the 'taking' or injuring or killing of endangered animals to protecting their habitat. The expansion led the court before Scalia joined in 1986 to OK protecting the habitat of animals ..." But this compounds error upon error. In 1995, Bruce Babbitt v. Sweet Home upheld an Interior Department (not EPA) rule, and Scalia wrote a dissent. The rule did not "expand the act beyond" the injuring of animals, it defined statutorily prohibited “harm” to include "significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife." Animals, like people, can be harmed or injured by destroying the food and shelter they need to survive.

Letter: Republicans block court nominees (Knoxville News Sentinel [TN], 10/04/12)
Glenn Sugameli: Your editorial, "Senate shouldn't tarry on TVA board nominees," urged action "during the lame-duck session." In 2010, Tennessee's U.S. senators finally overcame opposition to Jane Stranch's 6th Circuit Court of Appeals nomination. Now, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has blocked even unopposed trial court nominees. All 15 blockaded district court nominees had Judiciary Committee approval and support from their Republican and Democratic senators. Ten would fill judicial emergency vacancies declared by the courts. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D, Vt., stated: "Senate Republicans have not explained their unprecedented obstruction of President Obama's consensus nominees." In August, Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., insisted there was "no reason" not to confirm his state's nominees in September "by a voice vote. This could be done in a moment." Now, he is urging confirmations during the lame-duck session, when the Senate will decide if justice delayed will remain justice denied.

Republicans block Geraci’s nomination (Daily Record [NY], 09/22/12)
nominations, proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. “There’s still a possibility that they could agree and confirm some or all of those nominations,” Glenn Sugameli, head of Judging the Environment’s judicial nominations project in Washington, D.C., said Friday. “Nobody has opposed any of the 14 nominees who came through committee on voice votes.” Sugameli said unless the Republicans agree to allow a vote, there would not be enough time to vote on the pending nominees before the Senate recesses until after the Nov. 6 general election. He was not optimistic action would be taken between the elections and when the 113th Congress is seated in January. “It’s a total crap shoot,” Sugameli said. “The idea that maybe we might get to one of these in the lame duck session is no comfort at all. The idea that you might have to wait to fill these judicial emergencies until well into next year is outrageous. This is appalling.” Sugameli called McConnell’s statistics “a numbers game” and said there is no reason for Republicans to object. He agreed with Reid that votes on district court nominees who have the support of their home senators and are unopposed have never been blocked before. Sugameli said there is no reason to leave the judicial nominations hanging, “other than sheer partisan obstruction,” something he said he has never seen before in all the years he has been following judicial nominations. “This still stuns me,” he said. “It’s a big deal because there are over 800 district judges and they’re the judges who hold trials and decide issues that are critical to ordinary people, companies and others,” Sugameli said. “That’s where justice delayed is justice denied is especially true, at the trial court level.” “There is plenty of recent precedent for confirming at least the 17 pending nominees,” Sugameli said. “Something still could happen. It should happen. It always has happened. What tends to happen is that nominations, including judicial nominations, are the last thing they do before they walk out the door.”

Geraci’s nomination blocked by Republican senator  (Daily Record [NY], 09/21/12)
"Glenn Sugameli, head of Judging the Environment’s judicial nominations project in Washington, D.C., said there is still a possibility the Senate could agree to confirm some or all of the nominees before it recesses until after Election Day, Nov. 6."

GLENN SUGAMELI: U.S. Senate should honor the Constitution [& act on judicial nominees] (Patriot Ledger [MA], 09/21/12)
While The Patriot Ledger’s Sept. 17 OUR OPINION aptly urged “Honor Constitution Day by exercising your rights,” U.S. Senators should honor the day by exercising their constitutional duties. Before the Senate recesses this week, it must provide 17 pending district (trial) court nominees “the Advice and Consent of the Senate,” as required by the Constitution’s Article 2, Section 2. Empty judgeships mean justice delayed is justice denied. The Judiciary Committee approved all 17 with support from their Republican and Democratic home-state senators. Twelve would fill U.S. Courts-declared judicial emergency vacancies. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, reportedly “expects the district court nominees to be approved this month.” Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., held a news conference to insist there is “no reason” not to confirm two Pennsylvania federal district court judges in September “by a voice vote. This could be done in a moment.”

The Public Pulse, Sept. 20: Senate needs to approve judges (Omaha World-Herald [NE] , 09/20/12)
Glenn Sugameli: In his Sept. 17 Midlands Voices essay, “Constitution still relevant, unique,” Michael B. Godfrey explains how the U.S. Constitution created a functional national government, unlike the prior Articles of Confederation, which had “neither an executive nor a judicial branch.” Unfortunately, high numbers of judicial vacancies mean justice delayed is justice denied, as Carol Bloch and Jan Schneiderman discussed in an Aug. 30 Midlands Voices essay, “Judicial vacancies adversely affect Midlanders.” Before recessing, the U.S. Senate has a duty to provide 17 pending District (trial) Court nominees “the Advice and Consent of the Senate,” required by the Constitution’s Article II, Section 2. The Judiciary Committee approved all 17 with support from their Republican and Democratic home-state senators. Twelve would fill declared judicial emergency vacancies in U.S. courts. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, reportedly expects the District Court nominees to be approved this month. Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., held a press conference to insist there is no reason not to confirm two Pennsylvania federal District Court judges in September “by a voice vote. This could be done in a moment.” Since 2001, I have headed the Judging the Environment project on judicial nominations.

Confirming judges (Fort Worth Star-Telegram [TX], 09/18/12)
Letter to the Editor by Glenn Sugameli, staff attorney, Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife: he Monday editorial, "On Constitution Day: Celebrated but challenged," demonstrated the need to protect "the right to vote ... because electing members of our representative government is the core function of citizenship." Before recessing this week, the U.S. Senate must in turn exercise its core function in our representative government to vote on nominees for our third branch of government, the federal judiciary. Senators must provide 17 pending district court nominees "the Advice and Consent of the Senate," as required by the Constitution's Article 2, Section 2. Empty judgeships mean justice delayed is justice denied. The Judiciary Committee approved all 17 with support from their Republican and Democratic home-state senators. Twelve would fill U.S. courts-declared judicial emergency vacancies. Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee reportedly "expects the district court nominees to be approved this month." Republican Sen. Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania held a news conference to insist there is "no reason" not to confirm two Pennsylvania federal district court judges in September by a voice vote.

Court Vacancies Mire Appeals  (Congressional Quarterly, 09/17/12)
"The D.C. Circuit agreed to just one en banc review in each of its last two terms. “The vacancies really do have an impact,” says Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney for Defenders of Wildlife, an environmental advocacy group in Washington."

Frank Geraci Jr.'s federal court nomination enters crucial phase (Democrat and Chronicle [NY] , 09/12/12)
"Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney for Defenders of Wildlife who closely follows judicial nominations, said Tuesday he’s heard Republicans and Democrats are working on a package of nominations that could be approved prior to the next recess. If that doesn’t happen, Republicans such as Toomey could be hurt by appearing politically ineffective within their own caucus, Sugameli said."

Senate Confirms District Court Nominee, Showing Trial Judges Can Still Advance (Congressional Quarterly, 09/10/12)
“There’s no reason why they couldn’t confirm [all pending nominees] in an hour,” said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney with Defenders of Wildlife, an environmental advocacy organization. “You can do these all in voice vote.”

JUDICIARY: Vacancies shouldn’t wait on election (News Tribune [WA] , 09/07/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: Re: “Federal court vacancies will likely wait on the election” (www.thenewstribune.com, 9-6). Despite this report, the Senate may very well confirm delayed consensus nominees this month. There is still plenty of time. For example, on Sept. 26, 2008, the Democratic Senate confirmed 10 U.S. District Court judge appointments by President George W. Bush. The Judiciary Committee approved 18 currently pending District Court nominees with support from every Republican and Democratic home-state senator. Judiciary Committee Republicans supported 17 of these nominees. Twelve would reduce U.S. courts-declared judicial emergency vacancies that delay and deny justice. Republican Sen. Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania even traveled to an empty courthouse and held a news conference to insist there is no reason not to confirm two Pennsylvania federal District Court judges in September. He is correct; only senseless partisan obstruction by Senate Republicans could still prevent confirming all the committee-approved nominees.

G. Sugameli: Even more bad news for 'breathers' (Sun Journal [ME] , 09/04/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: Maine’s U.S. senators joined a filibuster that may undermine the Sun Journal’s conclusion in the aptly headlined editorial “Court ruling more bad news for breathers” (Aug. 26): that “The EPA can appeal the decision to the full District of Columbia Court of Appeals and it should do so as quickly as possible.” The editorial also noted “that two Bush-era appointees to the court voted to postpone the (Clean Air Act) regulations, while the Clinton appointee blasted the decision as an ‘absurdity’ unsupported by the factual record.” Three of the four George W. Bush judges the Senate confirmed to the D.C. Circuit continue on the court, including a member of the panel majority who filled the court’s 11th seat. Now, however, the court has three vacancies, so that five of the eight active judges would have to vote to review the 2-1 panel decision. Maine GOP Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins voted last December to filibuster President Barack Obama’s nomination of Caitlin Halligan to the D.C. Circuit’s ninth seat. A Washington Post editorial opined: “It is a disgrace to the party that Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican to endorse an up-or-down vote.”

The missing judge (Concord Monitor [NH], 08/31/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "But for one thing, the conclusion of the Monitor's Aug. 24 editorial, "Court ruling keeps the poison coming," that the Environmental Protection Agency "should appeal the panel's decision to the full nine-member court," would be correct. Last December, however, Republican senators, including New Hampshire's Kelly Ayotte, filibustered Caitlin Halligan, President Obama's nominee to fill the D.C. Circuit's ninth seat. As a result, the court still has three vacancies and only eight active judges. An appeal to the full court would require that five judges vote to review the 2-1 panel decision that overturned safeguards against air pollution from upwind states. The editorial noted that "Judge Brett Kavanaugh wrote (the majority) opinion joined by Judge Thomas Griffith. Both men were appointed by President George W. Bush; the dissenting judge was appointed by President Bill Clinton." Three of the four Bush judges the Senate confirmed to the D.C. Circuit continue on the court, including a member of the panel majority who filled the court's 11th seat."

Oregon still waiting for judicial nomination: White House says vetting process for seat is ongoing (Statesman Journal [OR], 08/11/12)
Article extensively quotes Glenn Sugameli, head of Judging the Environment’s Judicial Nomination Project, part of the environmental nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife.

Letter to the editor: GOP partisanship delays filling judgeships (Indianapolis Star [IN], 08/09/12)
From Glenn Sugameli, Staff Attorney, Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife re: Des Moines Register Editorial

Letter to the editor: GOP partisanship delays filling judgeships (Des Moines Register [IA], 08/09/12)
Glenn Sugameli: The Register editorial “Judges Remain Hostages in the Senate“ (Aug. 7) aptly describes how federal judicial vacancies delay and deny justice, and how Senate Republican obstruction even extends to district court (trial) judges and filibustering unopposed 10th Circuit Court of Appeals nominee Robert Bacharach, who “had the strong support of both home-state senators, Republicans Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma.” Senators unanimously agreed, however, to a Sept. 10 confirmation vote for President Barack Obama’s nomination of Stephanie Rose as a U.S. district judge for the Southern District of Iowa. Senate GOP leaders including Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley confined the current shutdown to circuit court of appeals nominees. In the last presidential election year, the Democratic Senate confirmed 10 President George W. Bush district judges on Sept. 26, 2008. All Democratic and Republican home-state senators support the 18 currently pending district court nominees. Sen. Grassley and other Judiciary Committee Republicans approved 15 on voice votes, including 11 of the 12 who would reduce the record number of U.S. Court-declared judicial emergency vacancies. Only senseless GOP partisan obstruction has delayed, and could still prevent, their confirmation.

Letter to the editor: GOP partisanship delays filling judgeships (Altoona Herald-Index [IA], 08/09/12)
From Glenn Sugameli, Staff Attorney, Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife re: Des Moines Register Editorial

Letter to the editor: GOP partisanship delays filling judgeships (Indianola Record-Herald [IA], 08/08/12)
From Glenn Sugameli, Staff Attorney, Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife re: Des Moines Register Editorial

Oregon waiting months for judicial nomination from White House (Gannett News Service , 08/02/12)
"There are many reasons the nomination process may be delayed "beyond which they are busy", said Glenn Sugameli, head of Judging the Environment's Judicial Nomination Project, part of the environmental non-profit, Defenders of Wildlife. "It's also possible they looked at one person and then there was a snag," he said. Sugameli said the vetting process has become more stringent and lengthier in recent years -- in large part to save embarrassing candidates getting through. ... "There really is a vacancy crisis," said Sugameli. "It's pretty amazing how long it's been and how sustained it's been."... Sugameli said candidates who have their names submitted are realizing in the current climate they may be pending for two years and increasingly withdraw themselves because there is too much uncertainty or they want to avoid an at times degrading procedure. "The process has really got so dysfunctional, so nasty, so uncertain" that it's discouraging people from subjecting themselves to the process, he said."

Superficial Change on the Federal Bench? (California Lawyer, 08/01/12)
Lawrence Hurley: "The White House has instead adopted what Glenn Sugameli, a lawyer for the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife who tracks judicial nominations, calls a "careful approach." But Sugameli acknowledges that the administration's recent confirmations are "a major accomplishment" that has changed the face of the judiciary from one that is predominantly old, white, and male. ...To Sugameli of Defenders of Wildlife, Republicans' initial resistance to Watford, a man liberals perceive as a mainstream candidate, just seems bizarre. Watford, he groans, is "a corporate lawyer, for God's sake." "

UPDATE: Oklahoma Judge’s Fate Could Come Down to Republican Sens. Coburn, Inhofe (Oklahoman, 07/30/12)
"Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, and Glenn Sugameli, an attorney of the Judging the Environment project, told The Oklahoman last week that they expect Republican senators from Maine, Alaska and Massachusetts to vote to help Bacharach. That would be four. They also speculated that the two Arizona Republicans could go along and that Sen. Richard Lugar, of Indiana, and Lamar Alexander, of Tennessee, might join the other Republicans. ... UPDATE: Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper, is reporting that both of Maine’s senators will vote to advance Bacharach’s nomination. ... Sugameli, attorney with the Judging the Environment project, said Monday that Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, are potential votes for breaking the filibuster."

Senators' efforts, allies boost Kayatta's prospects (Portland Press Herald [ME] , 07/30/12)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "Since 2001, I have tracked judicial nominations for the Judging the Environment project of the group Defenders of Wildlife. Unbroken precedent and recent events bolster the letter from U.S. Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins saying they are "very hopeful" they will "gather the votes needed to confirm" judicial nominee William Kayatta this year ("Election-year politics mar nomination," July 20). Election-year politics have never blocked consensus nominees like Kayatta, whom the Judiciary Committee approved in an April 19 voice vote to fill Maine's only seat on the six-judge 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. Likely allies include Oklahoma's very conservative home-state Republican senators. They strongly support Robert Bacharach, another stalled consensus nominee who was also approved in a committee voice vote. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., called the blockade "stupid," and said that Bacharach would make a great 10th Circuit nominee for a Republican president. Other expected supporters include those who joined Maine's senators to provide the 60 votes that Arizona Republican Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain needed June 11 to end a filibuster of their home-state judge, Andrew Hurwitz."

Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn considers voting against his party to help an Oklahoman get confirmed to federal appeals court (Oklahoman, 07/28/12)
Sen. Tom Coburn said Friday that he hadn’t decided whether he would vote against his party’s leadership Monday to help an Oklahoman get confirmed to federal appeals court. Coburn, R-Muskogee, strongly supports U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert E. Bacharach’s nomination for the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. And he said in June the custom of blocking judicial nominations in the last few months of a presidential election year is “stupid.” In an interview Friday, Coburn said Bacharach is “just a stellar candidate and he ought to get through.” But he said he would weigh over the weekend whether to do that over his party’s objections. “I want to do the right thing,” he said. “I haven’t decided what that is yet.” ... Attorney Glenn Sugameli, who tracks the judicial process for the Washington-based Judging the Environment Project, said the custom of blocking votes in presidential election years has never applied to noncontroversial nominees like Bacharach.

[Sen.] Graham support (Herald [Rock Hill, SC], 07/24/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "Efforts by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to block all nominees to U.S. Courts of Appeals are even more unprecedented and unjustifiable than explained in Opinions: "Reject the 'Thurmond Rule'" (Los Angeles Times Editorial, July 13). The so-called "Thurmond Rule" Sen. McConnell is claiming to invoke has never prevented Floor votes on Committee-approved consensus, noncontroversial nominations. Those at issue include an unopposed Federal Circuit nominee and two others who are strongly supported by their Oklahoma and Maine home-state Republican senators. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) said McConnell's action was "stupid," and that Robert Bacharach would make a great Tenth Circuit nominee for a Republican president. Maine GOP Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins stated that they would support a cloture motion to end any filibuster of First Circuit nominee William Kayatta, Jr. Previously, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and others in the bi-partisan "Gang of 14" defused filibusters and approved President George W. Bush's controversial Circuit Court nominees. Now, Sen. Graham could help confirm consensus nominees by joining with GOP senators who voted for South Carolina-based trial and appellate court judges whom President Obama nominated with Sen. Graham's strong support.

Non-Controversial Judicial Nominee Stalemate Worsens, Turning Conventionality Upside Down (Moderate Voice, 07/23/12)
Scott Crass: Glenn Sugameli of “Judging the Environment” cited to the “Tribune” 10 nominees confirmed via consent in September of 2008, adding that “clearly there can be, should be and has been Senate action in presidential years to confirm consensus nominees well into September.”

Conservative Ex-Judge Urges Vote on Appellate Nominee  (Gavel Grab [Justice at Stake blog], 07/23/12)
Peter Hardin: In a sidebar, the Salt Lake Tribune quoted Glenn Sugameli, an attorney and judicial analyst for Defenders of Wildlife, as saying it would be simple for the Senate to act quickly on the dozen or so federal judicial nominees who have won unanimous approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee. “There are plenty of examples in the past when there were votes on a bunch of people at the same time,” he said.

Inaction on judges affecting Utah: Courts » Stalling by Congress affects even nominees with bipartisan support.  (Salt Lake Tribune [UT], 07/22/12)
“You are in a situation now where it really is unprecedented in the extent of the obstruction,” said Glenn Sugameli, staff attorney with Judging the Environment, which keeps watch on federal judicial nominations. “It makes no sense. It is even hard to figure out what the motive is at this time, other than to deny confirmations. I think they are clearly trying to leave a lot of these seats open for a different president to fill.” ... The judicial vacancy crisis Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney whoever oversees a federal judicial nomination project for Judging the Environment, said the Senate could easily act “tomorrow” on the dozen or so federal bench nominees with unanimous support from its Judiciary Committee. “There are plenty of examples in the past when there were votes on a bunch of people at the same time,” he said. The Senate acted on 10 district court nominees during a single vote in September 2008, for instance — including some who had committee hearings days earlier. “Clearly there can be, should be and has been Senate action in presidential years to confirm consensus nominees well into September,” he said.

Geraci nomination sent to full Senate  (Daily Record [NY], 07/20/12)
Glenn Sugameli, head of the environmental community’s Judging the Environment project on federal judicial nominations, said he believes Judge Geraci will be confirmed; it is just a question of when. “He could be confirmed next week, but unfortunately, I’m also pretty sure that he won’t be,” Sugameli said, noting that when it does, the Senate has been voting on nominees in the order received from the Judiciary Committee, so there are at least a dozen nominees ahead of Judge Geraci. “I think probably sometime in mid- to late September is most likely,” Sugameli said. ... Sugameli called Lee’s negative vote a token protest he has been registering against all Obama nominees since the president’s recess appointments in January. “Lee’s vote does not reflect any opposition on the merits and the same thing when it comes to the floor,” Sugameli said. He added that Republicans are trying to blame the White House for not nominating people to some of the slots but that, as Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said four years ago, the fact that the Senate does not have nominees for a few seats is no excuse for not voting on the ones it does have. Sugameli said there were 20 judicial emergencies when Obama took office and the fact that that has increased by more than 50 percent, and that there are 77 vacancies, is scandalous. “Whenever there is a vacancy at all, especially when there is a judicial emergency, it really means cases involving people and companies are not heard in a timely manner,” he added. “Justice delayed is justice denied. It’s an old saying, but it’s true. Every day of delay is absolutely unnecessary.” Sugameli said even Republican senators are calling for movement on the judicial nominations. ... He thinks some of that is behind stalling approval of judicial nominees, which he attributed to a lack of understanding of the importance of filling the vacancies and a desire to keep the positions open until after the election in hopes of filling the seats with right wing judges.

G. Sugameli: Confirmation blockade unprecedented (Sun Journal [ME] , 07/19/12)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "The Sun Journal editorial "Withholding confirmation” (July 14) eloquently explained how defendants and plaintiffs will suffer from the June 13 decision by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to block every appeals court nominee. That even applies to consensus nominees whom the Judiciary Committee had previously approved: Maine’s William Kayatta for the First Circuit, Richard Taranto for the Federal Circuit, and Robert Bacharach, a Tenth Circuit nominee who is strongly supported by his very conservative Oklahoma home state Republican senators. Election-year slowdowns have never prevented floor votes on consensus nominees like these. Unfortunately, the editorial missed that critical difference when it calls McConnell’s unprecedented across-the-board blockade a “routine move to block judicial appointments, which is seen in both parties . . . ” Indeed, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said McConnell’s action was “stupid,” and that Bacharach would make a great Tenth Circuit nominee for a Republican president. Maine GOP Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins said they would vote to end any filibuster of Kayatta’s nomination to fill Maine’s only seat on the six-judge appeals court. They could succeed by working with Oklahoma’s senators and others, including those who provided the 60 votes Arizona Republican Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain needed on June 11 to end a filibuster of their home-state judge Andrew Hurwitz."

Unjustified opinions (Lake Wylie Pilot [SC], 07/17/12)
"Efforts by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to block all nominees to U.S. Courts of Appeals are even more unprecedented and unjustifiable than explained in Opinions: “Reject the ’Thurmond Rule’” ( Los Angeles Times Editorial, July 13). The so-called “Thurmond Rule” Sen. McConnell is claiming to invoke has never prevented Floor votes on Committee-approved consensus, noncontroversial nominations. Those at issue include an unopposed Federal Circuit nominee and two others who are strongly supported by their Oklahoma and Maine Republican senators. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) said McConnell’s action was “stupid,” and that Robert Bacharach would make a great Tenth Circuit nominee for a Republican president. Maine GOP Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins stated that they would support a cloture motion to end any filibuster of First Circuit nominee William Kayatta, Jr. Previously, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and others in the bi-partisan “Gang of 14” defused filibusters and approved President George W. Bush’s controversial Circuit Court nominees. Now, Sen. Graham could help confirm consensus nominees by joining with GOP senators who voted for South Carolina-based trial and appellate court judges whom President Obama nominated with Sen. Graham’s strong support." Lettter to the Editor, from GLENN SUGAMELI, Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife

The Other Health Case: D.C. Circuit Judges Reject Challenges to EPA Rules on Greenhouse Gases. (American Constitution Society Blog, 07/06/12)
Glenn Sugameli Guest Post: "This importance of the issues in Coalition for Responsible Regulation v. Environmental Protection Agency is augmented by synergistic factors. These include: (1) the court that decided them; (2) the judges who joined the unsigned per curiam opinion; (3) the high likelihood that their ruling is the final judicial word; (4) the very strong language the judges used; and (5) the decision’s impact in confirming the scientific facts of climate change."

Robin Rosenbaum confirmed by Senate as U.S. district judge (Daily Business Review [FL], 06/27/12)
Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney for Judging the Environment, a project of Defenders of Wildlife, has been keeping track of the political theater over federal judicial nominations. "If she had been nominated by any other president, the Senate would have confirmed her long ago," Sugameli said. "Senate Republicans' across-the-board obstruction, delay and blockades of even the most noncontroversial judicial nominees has become so reflexive and irrational that she and those who rely on courts in the Southern District of Florida are actually fortunate that she was belatedly confirmed."

D.C. Circuit Upholds EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Regulation (D.C. Circuit Review, 06/27/12)
Quotes: Glenn Sugameli, The Other Health Case: D.C. Circuit Judges Reject Challenges to EPA Rules on Greenhouse Gases, ACSblog (July 6, 2012).

Robin Rosenbaum's vote set for Tuesday (Southern District of Florida Blog, 06/22/12)
Hat Tip -- Glenn Sugameli.

Senators Argue Over End-of-Term Nominees, ‘Thurmond Rule’ (Congressional Quarterly, 06/19/12)
And the Maine senators may want their nominee to get the same consideration Hurwitz received. The Arizona senators “needed the Maine senators to get cloture on Hurwitz,” said Glenn Sugameli, who monitors judicial confirmations as a staff attorney for Defenders of Wildlife. “Are they going to turn around and shaft the Maine senators by not allowing votes on their people?”

Congressional Gridlock and the Executive: A Battle Over Nominations, Recess Appointments, and the Use of the Filibuster (American Constitution Society Blog, 06/16/12)
Glenn Sugameli comments and question beginning at 1:20:31 of video

Sen. Hutchison Struggles With Facts About Judicial Nominations (Progress Texas, 05/14/12)
Mark Corcoran: "U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison got into a back-and-forth debate via letters to the editor (LTE) in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram with Glenn Sugameli (Staff Attorney, Defenders of Wildlife) regarding the issue of judicial nominations. It appears from the back-and-forth that Sen. Hutchison either doesn't understand the issue of judicial nominations and vacancies or is purposefully ignoring the facts of the situation. It began when Sugameli's called out inaccuracies stated by Sen. Hutchison in a LTE published on May 2nd:... Unfortunately for Sen. Hutchison, her response just like her original statement was filled with inaccuracies. Sugameli responded again on May 11th: ... What does it say that one of our Senators who is responsible to fill our vacancies don't understand the issue of judicial nominations?"

Still debating Senate judicial nominations (Fort Worth Star-Telegram [TX], 05/11/12)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's May 5 letter (See: "U.S. Senate is carrying out constitutional responsibility on judicial nominations" ) compounds the errors I described from her April 26 floor speech, while falsely labeling as "erroneous" my "claim" that the Senate is delaying federal district court nominees. (See also: "Delayed judicial nominees," May 2 letters). Her speech's stated understanding that "we have confirmed ... roughly the same number of district judges as President George Bush and President Clinton did in their first terms," is contradicted by the numbers I cited: Clinton (151), Bush (142) and Obama (113). Her letter's claim of Obama "district court nominees confirmed by the Senate (129)" as of the end of March includes all committee-approved nominees through April 26, more than a dozen of whom are still delayed by Senate Republicans. She also incorrectly claims the Senate will act on three, rather than two, district court nominees (the third is for a circuit court)."

New judge vacancy could further strain Atlanta courts (Atlanta Journal Constitution, 05/09/12)
"Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial nominations for the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife, noted that Georgia's two senators were outspoken in opposing filibusters of President George W. Bush's judicial nominees. In a 2005 joint op-ed in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Chambliss and Isakson wrote “denial of an up-or-down vote goes against basic principles of fairness." Sugameli said the turnaround is striking, considering that the senators are preventing a hearing, much less a filibuster. “To pervert that into a situation where you’re essentially demanding the right to make all of the nominations for all of the slots is outrageous, unwarranted, and ... it really hurts the people not only in Georgia but in the rest of the circuit for whom justice delayed is going to continue to be justice denied,” Sugameli said."

Judge Jordan answers questions at the Bankers Club  (Southern District of Florida Blog, 05/09/12)
David Oscar Markus: "there is a fight brewing over President Obama's most recent nomination to the 11th Circuit -- Jill Pryor. From the AJC: ... Glenn Sugameli calls out the senators: Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial nominations for the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife, noted that Georgia's two senators were outspoken in opposing filibusters of President George W. Bush's judicial nominees. In a 2005 joint op-ed in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Chambliss and Isakson wrote “denial of an up-or-down vote goes against basic principles of fairness." Sugameli said the turnaround is striking, considering that the senators are preventing a hearing, much less a filibuster. “To pervert that into a situation where you’re essentially demanding the right to make all of the nominations for all of the slots is outrageous, unwarranted, and ... it really hurts the people not only in Georgia but in the rest of the circuit for whom justice delayed is going to continue to be justice denied,” Sugameli said."

JUDICIAL POLITICS Vacancies on bench at impasse Strain grows as Obama, Ga. senators can't agree on federal judgeships. (Atlanta Journal Constitution, 05/08/12)
GA Senators "Chambliss and Isakson refuse to say why they are blocking President Barack Obama's nomination of Atlanta attorney Jill Pryor for the 11th Circuit appeals court, after both senators said they would approve her if she were nominated to the district court. ...“They need to explain publicly why they’re holding up her nomination, which has been vacant for a long time,” said University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias, who studies the confirmation process. “They’re sort of turning the Constitution on its head. The senators don’t nominate and give the president a chance to reject.” ... Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial nominations for the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife, noted that Georgia's two senators were outspoken in opposing filibusters of President George W. Bush's judicial nominees. In a 2005 joint op-ed in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Chambliss and Isakson wrote “denial of an up-or-down vote goes against basic principles of fairness." Sugameli said the turnaround is striking, considering that the senators are preventing a hearing, much less a filibuster. “To pervert that into a situation where you’re essentially demanding the right to make all of the nominations for all of the slots is outrageous, unwarranted, and ... it really hurts the people not only in Georgia but in the rest of the circuit for whom justice delayed is going to continue to be justice denied,” Sugameli said."

JUDGES: Enviro groups at White House summit urge action on nominations  (Greenwire, 05/07/12)
Representatives from environmental groups were among those attending a White House summit this morning aimed at putting the spotlight on the slow rate at which the Senate has approved judicial nominations. Defenders of Wildlife, the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters and the Environmental Working Group were among 150 groups participating, according to Glenn Sugameli, a lawyer at Defenders of Wildlife. Attorney General Eric Holder was among the administration officials taking part. ... Obama's nominees have "disproportionately been the subject of partisan, unwarranted attacks," said Sugameli, who attended the meeting.

Senate GOP continues to delay judicial nominations (Fort Worth Star-Telegram [TX], 05/01/12)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "On Thursday, when the U.S. Senate finally confirmed David Guaderrama and Gregg Costa as Texas federal district judges, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison stated, "As I understand it, we have confirmed the same -- roughly the same -- number of district judges as President George Bush and President Clinton did in their first terms. To my knowledge, we are not holding up nominations at all." Neither her understanding nor her knowledge even approaches reality. As of April 26, in their first terms, the Senate had confirmed 151 Clinton district judges, 142 of President Bush's but only 113 of President Obama's. Senate Republicans continue to block floor votes on 19 committee-approved nominations. These include nominees whom Texas Sen. John Cornyn and other Judiciary Committee Republicans supported to fill vacancies that the U.S. courts have designated as "judicial emergencies." Seven other nominees cannot even have hearings because GOP senators have not returned the required home-state senator "blue slips." Once Hutchison is aware of these facts, she could help confirm judges to overburdened courts so justice delayed will not continue to be justice denied."

Letter: judicial vacancies: Obstructionism burdens courts (San Diego Union-Tribune [CA] , 04/28/12)
"Greg Moran’s timely story reports that a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee voice vote moved San Diego Superior Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel “one step closer Thursday to a seat on the federal bench.” (“Curiel clears Senate hurdle,” utsandiego.com, April 26.) I agree with law professor Carl Tobias that while Curiel is well-qualified and not a controversial nominee, it might be some months before Curiel’s nomination comes to a full vote. However, there is no valid reason for such a delay, and compelling reasons why waiting months will harm Californians as justice delayed continues to be justice denied in overburdened courts. Indeed, all six vacant California district judgeships and all four empty 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals seats are among vacancies the U.S. courts have officially designated as “judicial emergencies.” Partisan obstruction by Senate Republicans continues to block floor votes on 19 committee-approved judicial nominations, including those that home-state GOP senators support to fill emergency vacancies." – Glenn Sugameli, Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, D.C.

VOTE SET ON ARKANSAS JUDGESHIP (Arkansas Times, 04/27/12)
Max Brantley's Arkansas Blog: "Glenn Sugameli, staff attorney for Judging the Environment, provides another update on the saga of a federal judicial vacancy in Arkansas's Eastern District. He reports today that Kris Baker of Little Rock will finally get a Senate confirmation vote May 7. She will be among the last nominees covered by an agreement to allow votes on long-delayed vacancies in districts where the U.S. courts have said "judicial emergencies" exist. He writes: Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy’s explained yesterday how Republican senators are holding up judicial nominees and how “the Senate is still only considering judicial nominations that should have been confirmed last year.” Senate Republicans continue to block Floor votes on 19 Committee-approved nominations. These include those that Judiciary Committee Republicans supported to fill vacancies the U.S. Courts have designated as “judicial emergencies.” Seven other nominees cannot even have hearings, because GOP senators have not returned the required home-state senator “blue slips.”"

President Barack Obama nominates first woman for Baton Rouge federal court  (Bayou Buzz [LA], 04/26/12)
"Dick a founding partner of the law firm Forrester and Dick, LLC , would be the first woman to serve on that court, according to Glenn Sugameli who follows judicial nominees for Defenders of Wildlife. "

President Barack Obama nominates first woman for Baton Rouge federal court (Times-Picayune [LA] , 04/25/12)
Bruce Alpert: "If confirmed by the Senate, Dick a founding partner of the law firm Forrester and Dick, LLC, would be the first woman to serve on that court, according to Glenn Sugameli who follows judicial nominees for Defenders of Wildlife."

JUDICIAL EMERGENCY (Arkansas Times, 04/24/12)
Max Brantley: "The federal Eastern District of Arkansas, based in Little Rock, is now among the 39 districts considered in an emergency situation because of judicial vacancies and caseload. A nomination is pending to fill that vacancy in Arkansas, but the Senate keeps falling further behind on the confirmation process, including a deal that is supposed to produce the confirmation of Kris Baker of Little Rock to the Eastern District opening. Vacancies are twice the number that existed when President Obama took office. There's a lot of blame to spread around, but Republican obstructionism leads the list. Thanks to Glenn Sugameli of Judging the Environment for the news."

Sen. Heller v. Heller: The Latest Unjustifiable Obstruction of a Nominee to Fill a Federal Judicial Emergency Vacancy (American Constitution Society Blog, 04/13/12)
Glenn Sugameli Guest Post: "Justice delayed continues to be justice denied, as unjustifiable Senate obstruction of federal judicial nominees delays resolution of urgent health, safety, environmental, and other cases. In the latest example, Nevada GOP Senator Dean Heller’s misunderstanding of the Supreme Court’s coincidentally-named D.C. v. Heller decision has led him to block a Judiciary Committee hearing on a pending nominee.... oes Sen. Heller really believe that because the Second Amendment is a constitutional right, it is not a case-by case right, so it applies not just to guns, but to all weapons, and to terrorists, “felons and the mentally ill”? If so, he must reject the Supreme Court’s D.C. v. Heller recognition that like other rights, the Second Amendment is a constitutional right that is also a case by case right. Trial judges, including Judge Cadish, do not have this option, however; they must follow existing law, including Supreme Court definitions of the nature and extent of constitutional rights."

Senators must push for judges (Yuma Sun [AZ] , 04/10/12)
Glenn Sugameli letter: "The Yuma Sun's April 1 editorial (“District courts need long-term help”) aptly notes that “technically there is no longer (a statewide) ‘emergency' in the U.S. District Court system in Arizona, but in reality there is.” Indeed, both vacant Arizona district judgeships and all four empty 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals seats are still among 34 vacancies that the U.S. courts have officially designated as “judicial emergencies.” A solution depends upon Arizona's Republican U.S. senators, Jon Kyl and John McCain. They are responsible for what the editorial refers to as one of President Obama's nominees who “has been hung up in Congress.” Sens. Kyl and McCain must help identify a nominee for Arizona's other district vacancy and convince their GOP colleagues to allow floor votes on other nominations. These include Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Hurwitz's 9th Circuit nomination, which they strongly support. As the editorial states, court officials explain that Arizona “needs far more” than the currently authorized 13 district court judgeships. Arizona's senators could also push the Emergency Judicial Relief Act they sponsored which would create more judgeships in Arizona and other border states."

Judge can explain her position on guns (Las Vegas Review-Journal, 04/06/12)
Glenn Sugameli letter: "John Stites' Tuesday letter, "Judge's Second Amendment stance a problem," erroneously claimed that Nevada District Judge Elissa Cadish's answer to a 2008 questionnaire failed "to grasp a fundamental understanding." Mr. Stites may not like it, but every trial judge must follow the current state of federal law, including binding U.S. Supreme Court rulings on the nature and extent of constitutional rights. In 2008, Judge Cadish accurately described the state of federal law at the time and declared: "Of course, I will enforce the laws as they exist as a judge." Indeed, a subsequent Review-Journal editorial, "For District Court," endorsed her because, "In her knowledge of the law, in her intellectual firepower and judicial demeanor, Elissa Cadish was a superlative appointment who voters can proudly retain." Judge Cadish's recent letter to U.S. Sen. Harry Reid re-affirmed that she will follow current law, including Supreme Court Second Amendment precedents that were decided after the 2008 questionnaire. If U.S. Sen. Dean Heller still has questions about Judge Cadish's federal court nomination, he can allow her a hearing to explain."

Robin Rosenbaum makes it out of Committee (Southern District of Florida Blog, 03/29/12)
David Oscar Markus: "Next step is the Floor vote. Glenn Sugameli [link] tells me that this will likely happen after May 7, but at least we are moving in the right direction... Congrats to Judge Rosenbaum on today's vote."

(Updated) Kayatta appears set for judiciary committee vote (Portland Press Herald [ME] , 03/29/12)
"(Updated as of 3:55 p.m.: Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney with the Judging the Environment project on judicial nominations, says that history shows that a non-controversial nominee still can be confirmed into the fall before an election. That would bode well for Kayatta if his confirmation vote doesn't come this spring, because he has the support of Maine GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe.)"

Bipartisan effort in works on judicial nominations (Orlando Sentinel [FL] , 03/25/12)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter: "The Sentinel editorial "Road to compromise" on Wednesday urged Congress to break its latest gridlock by passing the bill that was approved by "a bipartisan majority in the Senate." In another critical area, Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio can build on a bipartisan agreement for belated Senate floor votes by May 7 on 14 consensus judicial nominees. The deal was silent on many others, including nominees who would fill three Florida district-court vacancies and one on the U.S. Court of Appeals that decides Florida cases. Justice delayed is justice denied, especially for people and businesses affected by 35 current vacancies (three in Florida) that courts have declared judicial emergencies. Fortunately, Nelson and Rubio have worked together to fill judicial vacancies, including the Court of Appeals confirmation of Florida U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jordán. They can reiterate their strong hearing testimony for Robin Rosenbaum's pending district-court nomination, push for prompt Senate consideration of the other nominees, and identify consensus choices for a current and an announced Florida vacancy."

Allow floor votes  (Amarillo Globe-News [TX], 03/17/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter: "John Kanelis aptly said that “Whoever replaces (Maine U.S. Sen. Olympia) Snowe or her soon-to-depart colleagues could rip the Senate further apart and create an even greater schism among lawmakers. Or the new senators could restore some of the art of the legislating.” Indeed, current senators could begin now to restore legislating in a rare area where agreement was already achieved months ago. Texans would benefit if Senate Republicans agreed to allow floor votes on many judicial nominees whom the highly polarized Judiciary Committee approved unanimously back in 2011. Inexplicably delayed district judge nominees include Gregg J. Costa and David C. Guaderrama, who were jointly recommended by U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, both R-Texas, to fill two of 34 court-declared judicial emergency vacancies. Texas federal courts are so overwhelmed and backlogged that immediate bipartisan action is needed in two other areas. First, Cornyn and Hutchison can push for action on their May 2011 bipartisan bill to create new judgeships in Texas and other border states. Second, they should quickly identify consensus nominees for seven other Texas federal trial and appellate court judgeships, six of which are also designated judicial emergencies."

Vote on District Court Nominee Michael Fitzgerald Set for Today (Metropolitan News-Enterprise [CA], 03/15/12)
One attorney advocating in favor of Obama’s nominees said yesterday’s agreement could lead to votes on those choices as well. “By ensuring merits votes on 14 judicial nominees, the deal could and should actually free up the Senate floor time that may be needed to push other nominees…past obstruction to floor votes and confirmation,” Glenn Sugameli told the MetNews. Sugameli is based in Washington, D.C. and works for a coalition of environmental groups.

Opinion, Letter: Thaw freeze on federal judge nominations (Advocate [Baton Rouge, LA], 03/14/12)
Glenn Sugameli: "The Advocate’s March 7 editorial, “Our Views: “Losing voice of moderation,” aptly describes the cause and effect of Maine’s senior Republican U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe’s retirement: “When compromise is a dirty word, the complex and sometimes ridiculously difficult rules of the Senate make it extremely difficult to pass legislation.” Bizarrely, unjustifiable obstruction even extends to a rare area where bipartisan agreement was actually achieved months ago: unopposed nominees to fill prolonged judicial vacancies. Despite support from both of her Louisiana home-state senators, Susie Morgan’s U.S. District Court nomination has been frozen since November, when she was unanimously approved by the Judiciary Committee. Unexplained Senate Republican holds continue to block floor votes on Morgan and many other consensus nominees. It is time for U.S. Sens. David Vitter, R-La., and Mary Landrieu, D-La., to demand floor votes on Morgan and other stalled nominees. They should also promptly identify a nominee for the other local district court vacancy and push to fill two vacant seats on the Louisiana-based 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals."

Senate GOP Upset by Harry Reid’s Nominations Tactic (Roll Call, 03/14/12)
Some argue that voting “present” is not a moderate middle ground because cloture requires 60 affirmative votes. “Voting ‘present’ on a cloture motion is the same as voting ‘no,’” said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney with Defenders Of Wildlife in Washington. “You need 60 ‘yes’ votes to break a filibuster, and it doesn’t matter how many Senators vote ‘present’ or ‘no.’”

W.Va. judge, lawyer blocked in Senate (Charleston Gazette [WV] , 03/14/12)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter: "The Gazette's March 1 editorial "Paralysis: Political tribalism" laments how "Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, a moderate Republican, is quitting Congress in disgust for the political hostility that prevents compromises to help America." Incredibly, gridlock even extends to the rare areas where agreement was achieved months ago. Senate Republicans continue to block Senate floor votes on many judicial nominees whom the highly polarized Judiciary Committee approved unanimously back in 2011. These include two West Virginia women: Gina Groh (Northern District court) and Stephanie Thacker (4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals), who have the strong support of both of the state's senators. West Virginians are among 130 million Americans who live where justice is delayed by judicial vacancies that could be filled by consensus, pending nominees. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has finally said that absent agreement, he will soon file cloture (anti-filibuster) petitions to obtain floor votes on Groh, Thacker and other judicial nominees who were approved by wide margins in committee."

Senate GOP Upset by Harry Reid's Nominations Tactic (Congressional Quarterly, 03/13/12)
"Sen. Lindsey Graham said he plans to vote “present.” “I think I have a pretty good record on being reasonable on judges; this is an unreasonable approach by the Majority Leader,” the South Carolina Republican said. “I’m voting ‘present.’ “I will wind up voting for most of the judges, if not all of them at some point, but I am not going to [allow] the Minority Leader [to be] run over by the Majority Leader. “I am not against the judges, I am against the process, which will hurt the Senate’s ability to operate in a collegial manner in the future,” Graham added. Some argue that voting “present” is not a moderate middle ground because cloture requires 60 affirmative votes. “Voting ‘present’ on a cloture motion is the same as voting ‘no,’” said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney with Defenders Of Wildlife in Washington. “You need 60 ‘yes’ votes to break a filibuster, and it doesn’t matter how many Senators vote ‘present’ or ‘no.’”"

Law: Time for Boozman to speed up judicial nominee  (Arkansas Times, 03/06/12)
Max Brantley: "wrote Glenn Sugameli this morning. He tracks federal judicial appointments for Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife. I wondered what he thought about the chances that the unprecedented Republican slowdown of federal judicial confirmations might imperil the committee-approved Senate confirmation of Kris Baker to a federal judgeship in the Eastern District of Arkansas Good question, said Sugamelli, who provided a wealth of information. It mostly indicates a historic reluctance by the Senate to filibuster routine nominations."

Confirmations blocked  (Miami Herald, 03/05/12)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "Florida’s senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson both strongly supported Jordan’s nomination which the Judiciary Committee unanimously approved way back on Oct. 13. After a bizarre silent filibuster, the Senate forced a floor vote in an overwhelming 89-5 cloture vote on Feb. 13. Two days later, the Senate finally confirmed [Adalberto] Jordan. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans continue to block floor votes on 20 judicial nominees, most of whom were approved unanimously in committee."

Law: Arkansas judgeship caught in Republicans' holdup  (Arkansas Times, 02/28/12)
Glenn Sugameli, staff attorney for Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife, updates me periodically on progress of federal judicial nominations. Today, he notes a news release from Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy, who complains that a list of consensus choices for federal judgeships are stacking up. In the past, consensus choices have been routinely approved. No longer. Leahy said more than a dozen with approval in committee have not come to a vote in the Senate. They include Kris Baker of Little Rock, nominated by President Obama to an opening in the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Judge Jordan confirmed 94-5!  (Southern District of Florida Blog, 02/15/12)
David Oscar Markus: "Congratulations to the judge and his family. What a great addition to the 11th Circuit. He will be missed on the trial bench... Glenn Sugameli has all of the scoop here, here, and here. [links]

Judge Adalberto Jordan confirmation stalled (briefly?) (Southern District of Florida Blog, 02/13/12)
David Oscar Markus: "So, here's the absurdity of our judicial confirmation process -- the full Senate voted 89-5 to invoke cloture, meaning that Judge Jordan's nomination to the 11th Circuit would finally come to a vote. But then Senator Nelson said that one Senator is holding up the merits vote by demanding 30 more hours of "debate" post-cloture. Senators Leahy and Boxer both then commented how ridiculous such a request was, but that's the way it is. It looks like we'll have wait another 30 hours for Judge Jordan to move up to the 11th. Silliness in our Congress.... (For lots of discussion, see Glenn Sugameli who is closely covering the process)."

Monday night line (Arkansas Times, 02/12/12)
Max Brantley: "JUDICIAL VOTE: Glenn Sugameli, staff attorney at Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife, calls my attention to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's announced intention to call a cloture vote (looks like it will be Wednesday) on an effective Republican filibuster of 17 federal district judge nominations, including Kristine Baker of Little Rock. Reid says the nominations are routine and some are needed in districts with emergency needs. He said Republicans are gumming up the process to embarrass the president. It will be interesting to see where Sen. John "Dr. No" Boozman votes on cloture, given that he nominally supports Baker for the eastern district judgeship in Little Rock. Her nomination has been pending for more than four months."

U.S. Magistrate Bencivengo Confirmed as Southern District Judge (Metropolitan News-Enterprise [CA], 02/10/12)
"Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney at Defenders of Wildlife who monitors judicial nominations for a number of environmental groups, said Lee’s “fellow GOP senators hung him out to dry- it shows that they understandably cannot stomach Sen. Lee’s absurd protest which his hometown papers have ridiculed.” "

Judge Jordan to be confirmed Monday? (Southern District of Florida Blog, 02/09/12)
David Oscar Markus: "There's a very good chance of that according to Glenn Sugameli, who has been all over the judicial appointment process."

DC Fiddles While the 11th Circuit Burns. (South Florida Lawyers, 02/09/12)
"Meanwhile, the interminable gridlock in DC that has caught up this once-in-a-lifetime bipartisan consensus nominee for the 11th Circuit drew special attention from Senator Leahy, as passed on by the always in-the-know Glenn Sugameli: ... Sug reports that finally, on Monday, February 13, 2012: the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #437, the nomination of Adalberto Jose Jordan, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 11th Circuit"

Collins should re-examine actions (York County Coast Star [ME], 01/26/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter: Sen. Susan Collins’ “frustration that Washington cannot seem to set aside partisan bickering.” Partisan bickering is epitomized by Senate Republicans’ blockages of consensus judicial nominees with bipartisan home-state senator support. The Judiciary Committee unanimously approved 16 blocked nominees, including several to fill court-declared judicial emergency vacancies. ... Halligan was nominated to what is now the ninth seat, one of three vacancies on the 11-judge court. The Senate (with Collins’ and Snowe’s support) confirmed four President Bush D.C. Circuit judges including one to the 11th judgeship. Until the Halligan filibuster, no one claimed the D.C. Circuit should only have eight judges."

Arkansas judicial nominee encounters no problems  (Arkansas Times, 01/26/12)
Max Brantley: "Kris Baker, a Little Rock lawyer nominated by President Obama for an opening on the federal district court bench in Little Rock, was among a batch of judicial nominees before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Conmittee today. Glenn Sugameli, who helps keep me up on judicial nominations at Judging the Environment, reports no hitches. Sens. Pryor and Boozman both testified in strong support of Baker. Sen. Jon Kyl asked Baker, as he had an another judicial nominee, if she as a judge could set aside support for Democratic candidates as Hurwitz had done. She said yes and the other nominees agreed. The record remains open for written questions."

Collins and Snowe must set partisan politics aside (Seacoastonline [Southern ME & NH], 01/25/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter: "Sen. Susan Collins’ “frustration that Washington cannot seem to set aside partisan bickering.” Partisan bickering is epitomized by Senate Republicans’ blockages of consensus judicial nominees with bipartisan home-state senator support. The Judiciary Committee unanimously approved 16 blocked nominees, including several to fill court-declared judicial emergency vacancies. Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said, “There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t have confirmed (his state’s nominee) before we got out” in December. Working with Sen. Lee, Sen. Collins and Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, could build on their recent efforts that finally confirmed Maine’s first female federal judge, Nancy Torresen. Collins and Snowe also must fill Maine’s First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals judgeship. As Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., recently stressed, the Senate needs to fill vacant judgeships “soon. I certainly hope we don’t have to wait until after the election.” Collins should re-examine her stated reason for joining a December partisan filibuster of Caitlin Halligan, Obama’s only D.C. circuit nominee: “That particular seat has been vacant for six years and the work load has declined during that period of time.” Workload depends on how many judges a court currently has, not which “particular seat” (judge) a nominee would replace. Halligan was nominated to what is now the ninth seat, one of three vacancies on the 11-judge court. The Senate (with Collins’ and Snowe’s support) confirmed four President Bush D.C. circuit judges including one to the 11th judgeship. Until the Halligan filibuster, no one claimed the D.C. circuit should only have eight judges."

Senators Must Work To Fix Unprecedented Lack of Judges  (United States Senators blog, 01/24/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor in the Ledger [FL]

Johnny Isakson, Saxby Chambliss send judicial signals to White House (Atlanta Journal Constitution, 01/24/12)
Jim Galloway column quotes "necessary background " including: Glenn Sugameli, who closely tracks judicial nominations for the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife, cited the op-ed in charging the senators with hypocrisy. “They’ve said that [nominees deserve a vote] over and over again, ” Sugameli said of Georgia’s two senators. “Well, to my knowledge, the Constitution hasn’t changed. It seems what’s happening is a change of their position that’s all about partisan politics and a Democratic president.”

Letter: Senators Must Work To Fix Unprecedented Lack of Judges (Ledger [Lakeland, FL], 01/24/12)
Glenn Sugameli: "GOP objections aren't based on the quality of Obama's nominees." The Ledger's description of obstructed executive nominees applies even more so to judicial nominees who are strongly supported by their Republican senators, regarding the editorial "Recess Appointments: Don't Stall President's Nominees" [Jan. 16]. As the Senate left until late January, Senate Republicans continued to block floor votes on consensus judicial nominees. Both home-state senators support each nominee. As Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said: "There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't have confirmed [his state's nominee] him before we got out." The Judiciary Committee unanimously approved 16 of the delayed nominees. These include Florida federal district court Judge Adalberto Jordan, who would fill one of two 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals vacancies the courts have declared judicial emergencies. Florida's senators also must soon follow through on their pledge to jointly propose candidates to fill five Florida district court vacancies (three current, including two emergencies, and two future). For example, Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., recently stressed the "need" to fill his state's six vacant judgeships: "soon. I certainly hope we don't have to wait until after the election." Nonpartisan calls from Florida federal judges, Supreme Court justices and the American and Federal Bar Associations to fill empty seats confirm the problem. An unprecedented lack of judges means that justice delayed continues to be justice denied. Florida senators Marco Rubio [R] and Bill Nelson [D] should work with Sen. Lee to ensure floor votes for Judge Jordan and other committee-approved judicial nominees, while heeding Sen. Toomey's call to identify nominees and fill vacancies soon.

JUDICIAL NOMINATION:  (Arkansas Times, 01/20/12)
Max Brantley, Arkansas Blog: "The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing on the nomination of Kristine Baker of Little Rock to an eastern district federal judgeship the afternoon of Jan. 26. Can President Obama sneak another appointee through from Arkansas before the election year is out? Her support from both Sens. Mark Pryor and Dr. No Boozman, could help her with Republicans who've slowed judicial confirmations to a crawl. Glenn Sugameli, who follows nominations closely for Judging the Environment, predicts the Baker nomination will be confirmed this year"

Judicial vacancies need to be filled (Las Vegas Sun, 01/17/12)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "The Sun editorial’s conclusion that “Republican opposition isn’t based on the quality of the nominees or their experience,” applies to President Barack Obama’s judicial nominees as well as his four executive branch recess appointees. Senate Republicans blocked in late December floor votes on every pending judicial nominee. All 19 are backed by both of their home-state senators, including Nevada’s Miranda Du, who is also supported by Republican governor (and former federal judge) Brian Sandoval, as well as the Republican lieutenant governor and mayor of Reno. Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee said, “There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t have confirmed (his state’s nominee) before we got out.” Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Penn., stressed the “need” to fill his state’s judgeships “soon. I certainly hope we don’t have to wait until after the election.” Nevada Sens. Harry Reid and Dean Heller should join Sens. Lee, Toomey, and others to solve the judicial vacancy crisis by filling judgeships, including court-declared judicial emergencies on the appeals court that includes Nevada."

Judicial vacancies need to be filled  (United States Senators blog, 01/17/12)
Glenn Sugameli's Las Vegas Sun Letter to the Editor

McCaskill, Blunt should help get judicial nominees Senate votes (St. Louis Post-Dispatch [MO], 01/15/12)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "Senate Republicans repeatedly blocked consensus judicial nominees long before President Barack Obama's executive branch appointments that the editorial discussed. Justice delayed is justice denied, as obstruction has resulted in unprecedented federal judicial vacancies. Sens. Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill, however, support Missouri judicial nominees Mary Phillips and Brian Wimes, who are among 19 awaiting floor votes. After the Senate left until late January, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said about his state's nominee: "There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't have confirmed him before we got out." Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., stressed the need to fill his state's judicial vacancies: "We need people in these seats soon. I certainly hope we don't have to wait until after the election." These recent statements from very conservative Republican senators suggest that Mr. Blunt and Ms. McCaskill could work with Mr. Lee, Mr. Toomey and others to ensure floor votes for committee-approved judicial nominees."

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Milford Daily News [MA], 01/12/12)
Letter to the Editor, GLENN SUGAMELI, Staff Attorney, Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Holliston [MA] Tab, 01/12/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Weston [MA] Town Crier, 01/12/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Northborough-Southborough [MA] Villager, 01/12/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Marlborough [MA] Enterprise, 01/12/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Natick [MA] Bulletin & Tab, 01/12/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Shrewsbury [MA] Chronicle , 01/12/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Wayland [MA] Town Crier, 01/12/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (MetroWest Daily News [MA], 01/12/12)
Glenn Sugameli: "An unprecedented federal judicial vacancy crisis means justice delayed is justice denied. Unnamed Republican senators’ unexplained objections have denied floor votes to 19 pending judicial nominees. All are supported by both home-state senators, and almost all were approved unanimously by the Judiciary Committee. After the Senate left until late January, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said about his state’s nominee: “There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t have confirmed him before we got out.” In December, Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) disingenuously or ignorantly claimed that he joined a partisan filibuster of Caitlin Halligan, President Obama’s only D.C. Circuit nominee, because “the D.C. Circuit has a comparatively small caseload.” Halligan, however, was nominated to fill the ninth seat, one of three vacancies on the 11 judge court. The Senate confirmed four President Bush D.C. Circuit nominees including Thomas Griffith to be the 11th D.C. Circuit judge. Until the Halligan filibuster, no one claimed the DC Circuit should only have eight judges."

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Country Gazette [Bellingham, MA], 01/12/12)
Letter to the editor, GLENN SUGAMELI, Staff Attorney, Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Hopkinton [MA] Crier, 01/12/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Westborough [MA] News, 01/12/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Ashland TAB [MA], 01/12/12)
Letter to the Editor, GLENN SUGAMELI, Staff Attorney, Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Sudbury [MA] Town Crier, 01/12/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor

Sugameli: Filibusters leave courts short-handed (Hudson [MA] Sun, 01/12/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor

Judge vacancies delay justice (Charleston Gazette [WV] , 01/09/12)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "Regardless of one's views on the opinion by Jim Lees ("Newt the panderer," Dec. 22) and the editorial ("Eye of Newt: Gingrich absurdity, Dec. 18) condemning attacks on judges, everyone should agree that federal courts suffer from a separate problem: a prolonged vacancy crisis. Senate Republicans' unexplained and unjustifiable objections repeatedly have prevented floor votes on consensus judicial nominees to fill judicial emergencies and other protracted vacancies. West Virginia's district court nominee Gina Groh and 4th Circuit Court of Appeals nominee Stephanie Thacker are among many blocked until at least late January, despite unanimous Judiciary Committee approval and support from their home-state U.S. senators. Despite nonpartisan calls from Supreme Court justices, the American and Federal Bar Associations, and others to fill empty seats, lack of judges means that justice delayed continues to be justice denied."

LETTER: GOP obstruction  (Northwest Florida Daily News, 01/03/12)
Glenn Sugameli: "Unexplained and unjustifiable objections by unnamed Senate Republicans repeatedly have blocked floor votes on consensus judicial nominees with home-state senator support. Sixteen of these were approved unanimously by the Judiciary Committee, including Florida’s federal district court Judge Adalberto Jordán, whose 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals nomination would fill a vacancy the courts have decided is a judicial emergency. After the Senate left until late January, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said of his state’s nominee: “There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t have confirmed him before we got out.” Florida Sens. Marco Rubio (R) and Bill Nelson (D) should work with Sen. Lee to ensure floor votes for Judge Jordán and other committee-approved judicial nominees."

LETTER: GOP obstruction (Destin Log [FL], 01/03/12)
Glenn Sugameli: "Florida’s federal district court Judge Adalberto Jordán, whose 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals nomination would fill a vacancy the courts have decided is a judicial emergency. After the Senate left until late January, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said of his state’s nominee: “There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t have confirmed him before we got out.” Florida Sens. Marco Rubio (R) and Bill Nelson (D) should work with Sen. Lee to ensure floor votes for Judge Jordán and other committee-approved judicial nominees."

Federal courts: Judicial nominees need floor votes  (Herald [WA] , 01/01/12)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "Unexplained and unjustifiable objections by unnamed Senate Republicans repeatedly have blocked floor votes on consensus judicial nominees with home-state senator support. Sixteen of these were approved unanimously by the Judiciary Committee, including Thomas Rice for a Washington state federal district court and Jacqueline Nguyen, who would fill a judicial emergency on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Washington state. After the Senate left until late January, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said about his state's nominee "There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't have confirmed him before we got out." Washington Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell should work with Sen. Lee and others to ensure that committee-approved judicial nominees receive floor votes."

Judicial gridlock (Houston Chronicle, 01/01/12)
Glenn Sugameli Letter: " there is one major area where the answer to whether Texas has been helped or hurt does not depend on whether you're talking to a Republican or a Democrat. Everyone should agree that Senate gridlock is harming federal courts nationwide. Justice delayed is justice denied, as obstruction has resulted in unprecedented federal judicial vacancies. Gridlock has also frozen the Texas senators' bipartisan bill to create new federal judgeships in border states. Unexplained and unjustifiable objections by unnamed Senate Republicans repeatedly have blocked votes on consensus judicial nominees with home-state senator support. Sixteen of these were approved unanimously by the Judiciary Committee, including Gregg Costa and David Guaderrama, who would fill Texas vacancies the U.S. courts have decided are judicial emergencies. After the Senate left until January, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said about his state's nominee: "There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't have confirmed him before we got out." Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison should work with Lee to ensure floor votes for Costa, Guaderrama and other committee-approved judicial nominees."

Approve judicial nominees (Deseret News [UT] , 12/30/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "everyone should agree that the Senate is already harming federal courts in Utah and nationwide. Justice delayed is justice denied as obstruction has resulted in an unprecedented lack of federal judges. Unexplained and unjustifiable objections by unnamed Senate Republicans repeatedly have blocked floor votes on consensus judicial nominees with home-state senator support. Sixteen of these were approved unanimously by the Judiciary Committee, including David Nuffer, who would fill a Utah vacancy the U.S. Courts have decided is a judicial emergency. After the Senate left until late January, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said, "There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't have confirmed him (Nuffer) before we got out." Only Utah has two senators on the Judiciary Committee: Sen. Lee and Sen. Orrin Hatch. They could ensure floor votes for Nuffer and other committee-approved judicial nominees."

Put judges on bench  (Salt Lake Tribune [UT], 12/30/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "unexplained Republican objections repeatedly have blocked many consensus judicial nominees. Utah GOP Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee both serve on the Judiciary Committee. Inexplicably, they have been unable or unwilling to convince their Republican colleagues to allow floor votes for Nuffer and many others whom the committee approved unanimously. Instead, Rogers’ article quotes Lee’s ineffectual disappointment: “I am frustrated, particularly with regard to Judge Nuffer. He came out of committee two months ago. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t have confirmed him before we got out. I expected he would be confirmed.” This obstruction must end; Utah’s senators can and should ensure that Nuffer and other committee-approved judicial nominees receive floor votes."

Glenn Sugameli: Ron Johnson still blocking OK for judges (Wisconsin State Journal, 12/30/11)
Letter to the Editor

Glenn Sugameli: Ron Johnson still blocking OK for judges  (Capital Times (WI), 12/30/11)
Letter: "everyone should agree that lack of federal judges means that justice delayed continues to be justice denied. First, as described in my Aug. 10 letter, it is still true that Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson is the “only freshman GOP senator blocking own state’s judicial nominees.” Indeed, with the support of other freshmen Republican senators from five states, the Senate has confirmed all 10 of the other nominees for judgeships that President Obama re-submitted after the senators were elected. In contrast, despite nonpartisan and bipartisan criticism, Johnson blocked Senate hearings for Victoria Nourse (7th Circuit Court of Appeals) and Louis Butler (Western District of Wisconsin), and forced the nominations to be returned to the president. Second, unnamed Republican senators’ unexplained and unjustifiable objections repeatedly have prevented floor votes on consensus judicial nominees, including many who were approved unanimously by the Judiciary Committee. As a result, the federal judgeship vacancy rate unacceptably remains stuck at about 10 percent, despite calls to fill empty seats from Supreme Court justices, the American Bar Association and others."

Groh, Thacker nominations could see vote in February  (West Virginia Record, 12/23/11)
Glenn Sugameli, who has headed the Judging the Environment project on judicial nominations since 2001, called it a "decades-old tradition" by Senate Republicans. "Outrageous, blanket holds (filibuster threats) by Senate Republicans continue to deny floor votes to every one of 21 pending judicial nominees, nearly all of whom the Judiciary Committee approved unanimously or with token opposition," he said in a statement last week. "Senate Republican roadblocks have prevented votes on every nominee to the federal bench for more than another month, regardless of need, strong home-state Republican Senator support and qualifications." Judicial vacancies have soared to 100, including 29 that the U.S. courts have declared to be "judicial emergencies," Sugameli said. "Urgent health, safety, environmental and other cases require filling judicial vacancies now, as recognized by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, the American Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, and countless editorials boards and commentators from across the nation," he said.

Hatch's 'present' the same as 'no' (Standard-Examiner [Ogden, UT], 12/22/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "First, Halligan's arguments in litigation represented her client, the New York Attorney General, rather than her personal views, as recognized by prominent bipartisan supporters of her D.C. Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals nomination. Second, the only Republican senator "notable exception" who did not block Halligan was Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, who consistently opposes filibusters of judicial nominees. Sen. Orrin Hatch has insisted that "the Constitution requires" an up-or-down vote on "every judicial nominee who reaches the Senate Floor." However, because 60 "Yes" votes are needed to end a filibuster, Hatch's "Present" vote had the same effect as a "No" vote. The real question is why Utah's senators have failed to obtain a Floor vote for David Nuffer's nomination to fill an emergency Utah federal district court vacancy. In July, Sen. Mike Lee was "thrilled" by the nomination and hoped Nuffer would "be able to start his judgeship later this fall.""

After 202-day delay, Senate confirms judge for appeals court seat  (NorthIowaToday.com, 12/16/11)
Los Angeles Times article quoting Glenn Sugameli, an attorney and judicial analyst for Defenders of Wildlife.

After 202-day delay, Senate confirms judge for appeals court seat (Sacramento Bee [CA] , 12/16/11)
Los Angeles Times article quoting Glenn Sugameli, an attorney and judicial analyst for Defenders of Wildlife.

After 202-day delay, Senate confirms judge for appeals court seat (Bellingham Herald [WA] , 12/16/11)
Los Angeles Times article quoting Glenn Sugameli, an attorney and judicial analyst for Defenders of Wildlife.

Senate Ends Stall, Confirms Appeals Court Judge  (Gavel Grab [Justice at Stake blog], 12/16/11)
Peter Hardin: "Glenn Sugameli, an attorney and judicial analyst for Defenders of Wildlife, said Justice Christen’s vote finally came months after the committee had given its unanimous approval, and she had bipartisan backing from Alaska’s senators; but there were “inexcusable, unexplained Republican refusals to allow a vote.”"

Obama judicial nominee Morgan Christen confirmed, at last: After a 202-day delay, the Senate confirms Alaska Supreme Court Justice Morgan Christen to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. (Los Angeles Times, 12/16/11)
"After inexcusable, unexplained Republican refusals to allow a vote, the Senate finally confirmed Morgan Christen" months after her unanimous approval by the committee and the bipartisan backing of her home-state senators, said Glenn Sugameli, an attorney and judicial analyst for Defenders of Wildlife.

This Week on JudicialNominations.org (American Constitution Society Blog, 12/16/11)
"Continuing criticism of the Senate’s recent filibusters has come from ... numerous editorial boards" [linking to Judging the Enironment wbsite's compilation].

Myths And Falsehoods About Judicial Nominee Caitlin Halligan (Media Matters for America, 12/02/11)
"Defenders of Wildlife's Judging the Environment project has compiled quotations from sitting senators who have said or suggested that it is unconstitutional to filibuster judicial nominees. Some of those senators have maintained that position during the Obama administration. [JudgingTheEnvironment.org, accessed 12/1/11]" [and many other links to Judging the Environment website]

List of Favorable Editorials and Commentary on Arvo Mikkanen’s Federal Court Nomination (Turtle Talk blog: Indigenous Law & Policy Center, Michigan State University College of Law, 11/29/11)
Here [Link to Judging the Environment website] thanks to Glenn Sugameli.

House readies vote on Balanced Budget Amend. (Washington Monthly, 11/18/11)
"Yesterday, a key House Republican announced his opposition to the constitutional monstrosity. (thanks to Glenn Sugameli for the tip)"

Supreme Ct Hands Valley Farmers A Loss  (Associated Press, 11/01/11)
Jason Rylander, a lawyer with Defenders of Wildlife, said it was the sixth time that the high court had "rebuffed radical attacks on the constitutionality of the Endangered Species Act."

October is banner month for judge confirmations (Reuters, 11/01/11)
"the president must push through more than 80 nominees before the end of his term to catch up to his predecessor. The Senate's work is far from over. There are currently 22 nominees awaiting confirmation on the Senate floor, and the Senate judiciary committee on Thursday is scheduled to vote on five more nominees. Nominees often stall as they await a vote by the full Senate, with votes taking an average of more than 100 days after judiciary committee approval, according to White House statistics. "They are not making it to the floor -- which is what matters," said Glenn Sugameli, a lawyer with the left-leaning Defenders of Wildlife who tracks judicial nominations."

Smelt Supreme Court ruling goes against farmers (San Francisco Chronicle [CA], 10/31/11)
Bob Egelko: " Jason Rylander, a lawyer with Defenders of Wildlife, said it was the sixth time that the high court had "rebuffed radical attacks on the constitutionality of the Endangered Species Act.""

SUPREME COURT: Justices decline to take delta smelt case  (Greenwire, 10/31/11)
Lawrence Hurley: "Jason Rylander, an attorney at Defenders of Wildlife, noted that the Supreme Court has now declined on six different occasions to take up constitutional challenges to the ESA. "There can be no doubt that the Commerce Clause provides Congress ample authority to protect America's wildlife heritage," he said."

Justice Thomas's Two Decades of Rejecting Precedents (Jost on Justice: Law & Justice Blog, 10/31/11)
Kenneth Jost: "A compilation in 2004 by Jason Rylander, a lawyer then with the progressive group Community Rights Counsel, lists 35 cases in which Thomas argued alone either in concurring or dissenting opinions for reconsidering settled precedents. The list begins with Thomas’s questioning in Georgia v. McCollum (1992) of the rule established a year earlier that private litigants cannot use peremptory challenges to exclude potential jurors on the basis of race. Rylander, now with Defenders of Wildlife, ended his list in 2004, ... Had Rylander continued the compilation, he could have added at least two more from the past two terms"

Supreme Court rejects delta smelt Commerce Clause petition (Endangered Species & Wetlands Report, 10/31/11)
Defenders of Wildlife senior attorney Jason Rylander, who filed an amicus brief on behalf of Defenders, the Institute for Fisheries Resources, and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, had this to say: “Six times now, the Supreme Court has rebuffed radical special interest attacks on the constitutionality of the Endangered Species Act. The ESA properly protects all species because of their actual and potential biological, economic, and aesthetic values. There can be no doubt that the Commerce Clause provides Congress ample authority to protect America’s wildlife heritage.” Rylander noted that five separate courts of appeal in six cases have found the ESA constitutional

Urging vote on judge nominees (Omaha World-Herald [NE] , 10/23/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter: "An Oct. 19 editorial aptly concluded that the U.S. Senate "needs to end the backlog on federal judicial appointments" and approve Nebraska Supreme Court Judge John Gerrard's nomination as a U.S. district judge "so he can take his position in a timely fashion." Indeed, a letter by the president of the American Bar Association to Senate leaders stressed that the federal bench vacancy rate continues to hover around 10 percent — right where it has been for the past 24 months. As the editorial noted, Gerrard has the strong endorsement of both of Nebraska's U.S. senators, Republican Mike Johanns and Democrat Ben Nelson. They could urge the Senate, as the ABA letter urged, to allow votes this month on Gerrard and more than 20 other nominees who were advanced from the Judiciary Committee by bipartisan voice vote."

One Pennsylvania judicial nominee to reach Senate floor Monday - but it's not Mariani (Times Leader [PA] , 10/14/11)
“The continuing Senate Republican refusals to allow a floor vote on Mariani is a prime example of mindless partisan obstruction: he will fill an emergency vacancy, has strong bipartisan support from his home-state senators, was approved in July without dissent in the Judiciary Committee, and that he was originally nominated last year,” said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney with Defenders of Wildlife in Washington and head of the Judging the Environment project, which works with progressive groups on federal judicial selection issues.

Senate confirms Hickey to Arkansas judgeship UPDATE  (Arkansas Times, 10/13/11)
"UPDATE: Republican Sen. Charles Grassley said he'd vote against Hickey's confirmation, according to Glenn Sugameli, whose Judging the Environment follows the judicial confirmation process."

‘Emergency' Ga. judge nominees stalled in Senate slog (Atlanta Journal Constitution, 10/13/11)
Sens. "Chambliss and Isakson wrote a joint op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in May 2005 in which they argued for swift consideration for Bush's nominees. Republicans were then in the midst of a push to change Senate rules that ended when Democrats agreed to limit their filibusters of nominees. “Not only does the Constitution require an up-or-down vote, denial of an up-or-down vote goes against basic principles of fairness,” they wrote. "... the Senate must give each nominee a fair, up-or-down vote to fulfill its constitutional duty.” Glenn Sugameli, who closely tracks judicial nominations for the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife, cited the op-ed in charging the senators with hypocrisy. “They’ve said that [nominees deserve a vote] over and over again,” Sugameli said of Georgia’s two senators. “Well, to my knowledge, the Constitution hasn’t changed. It seems what’s happening is a change of their position that’s all about partisan politics and a Democratic president, not a Republican one."”

Judge Jordan voice vote with no opposition  (Southern District of Florida Blog, 10/13/11)
Congrats to Judge Jordan who took the next step today in getting to the 11th Circuit. The judiciary committee's voice vote was unanimous today on Judge Jordan. Senator Sessions even congratulated President Obama on nominating Judge Jordan, who said he had met with him and was impressed with his "12 good years as a district judge" and his prior experience. Cool! HT: Glenn Sugameli

Judge Jordan’s nomination delayed and will join dozens awaiting Senate Floor votes  (Southern District of Florida Blog, 10/07/11)
GUEST POST BY GLENN SUGAMELI: "the fact that Judge Jordan is moving through Committee does NOT mean that he will get a Floor vote anytime soon. True, he has (bipartisan) home state senator support and should be approved without opposition in Committee. But that is also true of nearly all of the many other stalled nominees. Anonymous and unexplained objections from GOP senators have created an unprecedented backlog of consensus judicial nominees who could and should be approved very quickly. . . . Even the most consensus district court nominees are only confirmed after inexcusable and unexplained delays. . . . There were 27 Committee approved judicial nominees awaiting Floor votes before the Senate belatedly confirmed Jolivette-Brown and five others unanimously. When the Committee approves Judge Jordan and the other delayed nominees next week, there will once again be 27 awaiting Floor votes."

"Absurd' delay in Senate on judicial nominations (Kennebec Journal [ME] , 10/02/11)
“Torresen's nomination getting to the Senate floor is a "good sign and is an example of home state senators pushing for action," said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney with Defenders of Wildlife in Washington and head of the Judging the Environment project, which works with progressive groups on federal judicial selection issues. "But it is still absurd, the way these things are inching through."”

Jonathan Riskind: Maine needs action on judgeship (Portland Press Herald [ME] , 10/02/11)
Torresen's nomination getting to the Senate floor is a "good sign and is an example of home state senators pushing for action," said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney with Defenders of Wildlife in Washington and head of the Judging the Environment project, which works with progressive groups on federal judicial selection issues. "But it is still absurd, the way these things are inching through."

Votes scheduled on judicial nominees (Arkansas News, 09/28/11)
"Glenn Sugameli, who follows federal judicial nominations for Judging the Environment, sends word that some of the U.S. Senate logjam on judicial confirmations has been broken and that this should be good news for Circuit Judge Susan Hickey of El Dorado, who’s been recommended for confirmation to a judgeship in the western district of Arkansas...

Senate confirms four U.S. attorneys for Texas districts (Houston Chronicle, 09/28/11)
Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial appointments with the left-leaning Defenders of Wildlife, said the U.S. attorneys confirmations for Texasare “good news, but this still unjustifiably leaves in limbo the majority of judiciary nominees who were approved unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee.”

Senate Cuts Deal to Vote on 10 of 27 Pending Judicial Nominees (American Constitution Society Blog, 09/27/11)
Glenn Sugameli, who leads the Defenders of Wildlife’s Judging the Environment project, praised the “partial break in the deep freeze on U.S. Senate confirmations of judicial nominees,” but lamented that the deal “unjustifiably leaves in limbo 17 judicial nominees awaiting votes, most of those who were approved unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee.” “Senate Republican obstruction needlessly continues to prolong the judicial vacancy crisis by preventing votes, regardless of need, qualifications and bipartisan home-state Senator support,” Sugameli said in a statement.

Senate confirms four U.S. attorneys for Texas. (San Antonio Express-News [TX] , 09/27/11)
"Texas has six vacant judgeships, including one in San Antonio, where congressional Democrats are pushing state district Judge Karen Pozza, and Republican senators favor lawyer Robert Valdez. Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial appointments with the left-leaning Defenders of Wildlife, said the U.S. attorneys' confirmations for Texas are “good news, but this still unjustifiably leaves in limbo the majority of judiciary nominees who were approved unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee.”

Green nomination stuck in Senate (Daily Record [NY], 09/27/11)
Twenty-seven nominations, including Green’s, have been approved by the Judiciary Committee and forwarded to the Senate for a vote, according to Glenn Sugameli, staff attorney for Defenders of Wildlife’s Judging the Environment project, which tracks federal judicial nominations....That unjustifiably leaves 17 judicial nominations in limbo, Sugameli said, noting he has no idea why Green’s is not included with those coming up for votes, but believes Senate Republicans are holding up the nomination process. “This pace has been very slow since they came back from the August recess,” Sugameli said. “The only real reason for this process, I’m convinced, is that they’re just trying to clog up the pipeline so there will be a lot of vacancies to be filled after the next presidential election.” ... “I can say the only reason they aren’t having votes on all the nominees that cleared committee is that one or more Republicans, anonymously, is objecting to having floor votes at this time,” Sugameli said. He said what is unusual is that many of the nominations were unanimously confirmed by “a very polarized committee” and are still not coming to a vote, which he said has never happened before — at least in the 10 years his project has been around. Sugameli said Green’s nomination was approved by voice vote with Sen. Michael S. Lee, R-Utah, the only one opposed. He said others who had more opposition or came out of committee after Green have been moved ahead of him. “It’s really bizarre,” Sugameli said. “I know there was some initial buzz about why he wasn’t moving, but once he moved, it stopped. If there was any issue at all, I’m convinced there would have been a bunch of ‘no’ votes [in committee]. I think it’s pretty safe to say nothing will happen on Green and the others until at least Oct. 11.”

Votes scheduled on judicial nominees  (Arkansas Times, 09/27/11)
Max Brantley: "Glenn Sugameli, who follows federal judicial nominations for Judging the Environment, sends word that some of the U.S. Senate logjam on judicial confirmations has been broken and that this should be good news for Circuit Judge Susan Hickey of El Dorado, who's been recommended for confirmation to a judgeship in the western district of Arkansas. He sent me a copy of a notice to senators about the coming calendar. It indicates that her confirmation has been set for a vote some time after Oct. 11, along with several others nominees. Hickey enjoyed support from both Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor and Republican Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas. Sugameli said 17 other nominations remain in limbo, however, despite unanimous Senate committee approval."

Has Will shifted position on ruling (Daily Herald [IL], 09/26/11)
Glenn Sugameli letter: "George Will’s column, “A ruling’s valuable rehabilitation” (Sept. 9), ignored the overwhelming rejection of the position he advocates by conservative jurists — and by George Will. Will claims that the Supreme Court “correctly decided” Lochner v. New York in 1905. However, the author of the book Will relies on reacted by stressing that “conservative jurists have been, if anything, even more anti-Lochner than their liberal counterparts.”"

Letter, 9/25: Senators could help confirm judge (Lincoln Journal Star [NE], 09/25/11)
Glenn Sugameli: "The Lincoln Journal Star's editorial in December correctly foresaw that "the 12-month retirement notice given by U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf of Omaha ought to allow adequate time for a replacement to be named. But Washington is so dysfunctional that a full year may not be enough." Nebraska Supreme Court Justice John Gerrard was nominated to replace Kopf. Gerrard enjoyed bipartisan support at his Sept. 20 hearing and should be approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee without dissent. Then, however, he will join the backlog of more than two dozen consensus judicial nominees awaiting long-delayed votes by the full Senate. At Gerrard's hearing, Sen. Ben Nelson hoped "the full Senate will have the opportunity to swiftly approve this good man." Sen. Mike Johanns pledged that "I will do everything I possibly can to try to bring this nomination to a vote." Thus, Nebraska's senators seem poised to exert the strong bipartisan home-state senator pressure that has broken the deep-freeze on floor votes to confirm other federal judges."

Letter to the editor: Will forgets his position? (Erie Times-News [PA], 09/24/11)
Glenn Sugameli: "George Will's column "Anti-liberal ruling rehabilitated" (Erie Times-News, Sept. 12) has a fatal flaw: Will's claim that the Supreme Court "correctly decided Lochner" in 1905 has been rejected overwhelmingly by conservatives, including Will himself."

Using flawed facts  (Hawaii Tribune-Herald , 09/23/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "George Will's "A ruling's rehabilitation" (Tribune-Herald, Sept. 8) ignores a key fact: Will's claim that the Supreme Court "correctly decided Lochner" in 1905 has been rejected overwhelmingly by conservatives -- including George Will. Indeed, the author of the book Will relies on reacted by stressing that "conservative jurists have been, if anything, even more anti-Lochner than their liberal counterparts." Libertarian professor Don Bordeaux pointed out that: "Conservatives -- including Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Scalia -- routinely join 'Progressives' in bashing Lochner. No less a conservative icon than Robert Bork derides Lochner as being 'the symbol, indeed the quintessence, of judicial usurpation of power.'" Finally, as National Review commentator Matthew J. Franck explains: "This is the same George Will who, in 1996, described Lochner as standing for the proposition that "the court can overturn laws it considers unwise." Later the same year, he called Lochner's brand of substantive due process the "tendentious doctrine that many government actions distasteful to judges can be baldly declared to be the results of constitutionally impermissible processes."

Our readers speak: George Will column used flawed facts, judicial history (Montana Standard, 09/20/11)
Glenn Sugameli: "George Will's "1905 ruling relevant to current arguments" (Sept. 8) has a fatal flaw: Will's claim that the Supreme Court "correctly decided Lochner" in 1905 has been rejected overwhelmingly by conservatives-including George Will."

Bipartisan Home-State Senator Pressure Could Ease Judicial Vacancy Crisis (American Constitution Society Blog, 09/20/11)
Glenn Sugameli Guest Post: "Justice delayed has become justice denied, as continuing, unjustifiable Senate obstruction of consensus federal judicial nominees delays resolution of urgent health, safety, environmental, and other cases. Incredibly, Senate Floor votes on 27 judicial nominees are being blocked, four more than I decried in my September 2010 ACSblog guest post, "Federal Judicial Vacancy Crisis Deepens as Unnamed Senate Republicans Block Floor Votes on All 23 Pending Judicial Nominees." By next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will raise the total to 32 by approving five more consensus nominees. The 92 current federal court vacancies are almost 50 more than the 44 I mentioned in my December 2008 ACSblog post. There are still 21 announced future vacancies, and current vacancies that the U.S. Courts have declared to be "judicial emergencies" have increased during President Obama’s term from 20 to 35.... The good news is that strong bipartisan home –state senator pressure has broken, and could continue to break, the deep-freeze on confirmation of federal judges. Indeed, strong support from Republican home-state senators finally obtained up-or-down Floor votes for several much-delayed nominees I described last September."

Will's take on 1905 ruling at odds with earlier column (Island Packet [SC], 09/18/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: George Will's Sept. 9 column "Ruling's rehabilitation backs individual rights over regulation" ignores a key fact: Will's claim that the Supreme Court "correctly decided Lochner" in 1905 has been rejected overwhelmingly by conservatives -- including George Will."

George Will ignores some facts (Vindicator [Youngstown, OH], 09/16/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "George Will’s Sept. 8 column, “Defending individual rights,” ignores a key fact: Will’s claim that the Supreme Court “correctly decided Lochner” in 1905 has been rejected overwhelmingly by conservatives — including George Will."

Which is it, George? (Ledger-Enquirer [GA], 09/15/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: Anyone enamored by George Will’s “The rehabilitation of a court ruling” (Ledger-Enquirer, Sept. 11) should consider the overwhelming rejection of the position he advocates by conservative jurists and by George Will. Will claims that the Supreme Court “correctly decided Lochner” in 1905. However, the author of the book Will relies on reacted by stressing that “conservative jurists have been, if anything, even more anti–Lochner than their liberal counterparts.” Libertarian professor Don Bordeaux pointed out that: “conservatives -- including Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Scalia -- routinely join 'Progressives’ in bashing Lochner. No less a conservative icon than Robert Bork derides Lochner as being 'the symbol, indeed the quintessence, of judicial usurpation of power.'” Finally, as National Review commentator Matthew J. Franck explains: “This is the same George Will who in 1996 described Lochner as standing for the proposition that “the court can overturn laws it considers unwise.” Later the same year, he called Lochner’s brand of substantive due process the “tendentious doctrine that many government actions distasteful to judges can be baldly declared to be the results of constitutionally impermissible processes.”

Letters: Judicial nominees had widespread support (Stevens Point Journal [WI], 09/14/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter

Letters: Judicial nominees had widespread support (Oshkosh Northwestern [WI] , 09/14/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter

Letters: Judicial nominees had widespread support (Wausau Daily Herald [WI] , 09/14/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter

Letters: Judicial nominees had widespread support (Fond du Lac Reporter [WI] , 09/14/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter

LETTER: A response to George Will's column (Morning Sun [MI], 09/14/11)
Glenn Sugameli: "George Will: A ruling's rehabilitation" (Sept. 8) ignores a key fact: Will's claim that the Supreme Court "correctly decided Lochner" in 1905 has been rejected overwhelmingly by conservatives - including George Will. Indeed, the author of the book Will relies on reacted by stressing that "conservative jurists have been, if anything, even more anti-Lochner than their liberal counterparts." Libertarian professor Don Bordeaux pointed out that: "conservatives - including Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Scalia - routinely join "Progressives" in bashing Lochner. No less a conservative icon than Robert Bork derides Lochner as being "the symbol, indeed the quintessence, of judicial usurpation of power." Finally, as National Review commentator Matthew J. Franck explains: "This is the same George Will who in 1996 described Lochner as standing for the proposition that 'the court can overturn laws it considers unwise.'"

Letters: Judicial nominees had widespread support (Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, 09/14/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter

Letters: Judicial nominees had widespread support (Sheboygan Press [WI] , 09/14/11)
Glenn Sugameli: "I am writing regarding Corrado Cirillo's Aug. 29 letter, "No input from Johnson on judicial nomination" that unjustifiably attacks the editorial in The Sheboygan Press, "Judicial nominee deserves a vote." The editorial said Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson was wrong to hold up the nomination of Victoria Nourse to the federal appeals court that serves Wisconsin." First, freshmen Republican senators from five states support all 10 of the other judicial re-nominees whom President Obama first submitted before they were elected. Johnson is alone both in opposing his state's re-nominees, and in preventing the Senate from even considering them. Second, those urging Johnson to drop his hold include a bipartisan group of 53 prominent law professors and Kevin Binversie, who was a Ron Johnson for Senate research director. Third, Johnson is also blocking Louis Butler, who was originally nominated to the district (trial) court in September 2009. The Senate would have confirmed Butler long before Johnson was elected, save for unprecedented threats to filibuster district court nominees that were repudiated and abandoned months ago."

GEORGE WILL: Conservatives reject columnist's claim (News Tribune [WA] , 09/14/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter: " Re: “Government shouldn't so easily erase individual rights” (George Will column, 9-8). Will ignores a key fact: His claim that the Supreme Court “correctly decided Lochner” in 1905 has been rejected overwhelmingly by conservatives — including by Will himself."

Letters: Judicial nominees had widespread support (Manitowac Herald Times Reporter [WI], 09/14/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter

Letters: Judicial nominees had widespread support (Marshfield News Herald [WI], 09/14/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter

Letters: Judicial nominees had widespread support (Post-Crescent [WI] , 09/14/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter

Letters: Judicial nominees had widespread support (Green Bay Press Gazette [WI], 09/14/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter

Rep. Lummis Lashes Out at Environmental Lawsuits (New West, 08/25/11)
In turn, the conservation group Defenders of Wildlife released a statement that said, “We only recover those costs when we prevail in court, meaning a judge agrees that the law has been violated. Without the ability to recover those costs, the American people would lose their ability to challenge the federal government when it violates the law and fails to fulfill its duties.”

Glenn Sugameli: Johnson is only freshman GOP senator blocking own state’s judicial nominees (Cap Times [WI], 08/10/11)
" Your recent editorial, “Ron Johnson represents Alabama better than Wisconsin,” aptly compares obstruction of President Obama’s judicial nominees by Republican U.S. Sens. Johnson of Wisconsin and Jeff Sessions of Alabama. Johnson’s extremism, however, is worse than implied by the editorial’s comparison to “Sessions and his allies from the states of the old Confederacy.” In general, GOP senators from those states have strongly supported Obama’s Circuit Court of Appeals and district court nominees from their home states. For example, Mississippi’s GOP senators repeatedly pressured Senate leaders and publicly denounced lengthy delays to confirm James E. Graves Jr. (5th Circuit) and Carlton Reeves (district court). North Carolina senators’ bipartisan pressure secured delayed approvals of their state’s district court and two 4th Circuit nominees, James Wynn and Albert Diaz. Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander’s speech urging a floor vote led to Jane Stranch’s 6th Circuit confirmation. In January, President Obama resubmitted 12 nominees for judgeships from six states with freshmen Republican senators. Not only is Johnson the only one who has not supported his state’s nominees, he is preventing the Senate from even considering both Victoria Nourse (7th Circuit) and Louis Butler (Western District of Wisconsin)."

Democrats say GOP senators blocked a vote on Texas judge, 19 others (Houston Chronicle, 08/05/11)
Republican obstruction is perpetuating the judicial crisis “by preventing votes on many nominees to the federal bench, regardless of need, bipartisan support and qualifications,” said Glenn Sugameli, founder of Defenders of Wildlife’s “Judging the Environment” project, which tracks judicial issues.

Vacant federal judge slots criticized  (Longview News Journal [TX] , 08/05/11)
Quotes Glenn Sugameli on obstruction of nominees and judicial vacancy crisis

ONE OPENING FILLED, OTHER MAY BE CREATED: Williams confirmed, Jordan nominated  (Daily Business Review [FL], 08/04/11)
Some civic groups are outraged that some Republican senators are still blocking 20 nominees with bipartisan support. "There are many important cases that are being delayed because vacancies are not being filled," said Glenn Sugameli, staff attorney for Judging the Environment, which monitors federal judicial nominations. "It affects businesses, it affects ordinary people, it's a real judicial vacancy crisis."

Tests loom for openly gay federal judge (Gazette [Cedar Rapids, IA], 08/04/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "The July 25 editorial “Homers: What’s going right: Judicial First” explained that: “J. Paul Oetken, a graduate of Cedar Rapids Regis High School and the University of Iowa, was confirmed to a federal judgeship by the U.S. Senate. His achievement drew extra recognition because he is the first openly gay man to be confirmed to the federal bench.” The real tests, however, loom. Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans, including ranking member Chuck Grassley, will not say why they are blocking a hearing for Ed DuMont, whose April 2010 nomination was the first of an openly gay person to a U.S. appeals court. Meanwhile, a judicial vacancy crisis has been deepened by unexplained GOP refusals to allow floor votes on 25 nominees, nearly all of whom were unopposed in committee."

Senate recess leaves judicial nominees hanging  (Daily Record [NY], 08/04/11)
"Glenn Sugameli, staff attorney for Judging the Environment's federal judicial nominations project, also blames unnamed Republicans for blocking floor votes on the nominees. It's deja vu all over again, he said in an issued statement, noting the American Bar Association wrote Senate leaders July 28, urging up-or-down votes on all unopposed nominees. Instead, Senate Republican obstruction perpetuates the judicial vacancy crisis by preventing votes on many nominees to the federal bench, regardless of need, bi-partisan support and qualifications, he said. Urgent health, safety, environmental and other cases require that judicial vacancies be filled now, as recognized by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and ... countless editorials boards and commentators from across the nation."

Leahy Accuses GOP Senators of Delaying Judicial Confirmations (Gavel Grab [Justice at Stake blog], 08/03/11)
Also critical was Glenn Sugameli of Judging the Environment. “The American Bar Association President’s July 28, 2011 letter to Senate Leaders urged up-or-down votes on all unopposed nominees before the Senate left town until after Labor Day,” Sugameli said in a statement. “Instead, Senate Republican obstruction perpetuates the judicial vacancy crisis by preventing votes on many nominees to the federal bench, regardless of need, bi-partisan support, and qualifications.”

Leahy Accuses GOP Senators of Delaying Judicial Confirmations  (Gavel Grab [Justice at Stake blog], 08/03/11)
Also critical was Glenn Sugameli of Judging the Environment. “The American Bar Association President’s July 28, 2011 letter to Senate Leaders urged up-or-down votes on all unopposed nominees before the Senate left town until after Labor Day,” Sugameli said in a statement. “Instead, Senate Republican obstruction perpetuates the judicial vacancy crisis by preventing votes on many nominees to the federal bench, regardless of need, bi-partisan support, and qualifications.”

Ecosystem Services and the Potential Role for Markets (Oregon State University Extension Service, 08/01/11)
"Glenn Sugameli (1997) of the National Wildlife Federation argued that paying compensation to landowners for environmental restrictions would “impose massive costs on taxpayers” and “cause an inability to enforce protections for people, private property, and public resources."

Kan. senators block former AG's appeals court bid (Associated Press, 07/28/11)
""Kansas senators' continued failures to say why they oppose Steve Six's nomination, in the face of many Kansas editorial boards urging them to explain, strongly suggests that the senators' motives are unjustified and cannot stand the light of day," said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney for Judging the Environment who has been monitoring Six's nomination."

Senator Leahy Speaks Out on Behalf of Stalled SD FL Judicial Nominations  (South Florida Lawyers, 07/26/11)
"Chief Judge Moreno has started writing letters in hopes of getting Kathy Williams and Bob Scola confirmed as judges sometime this century. And Glenn Sugameli, a DC wonk who has done great work on this issue, passed along this floor statement by Senator Leahy in which the Senator quotes Judge Moreno's letter and highlights the larger context in which very qualified nominees are being held up for no good reason:... "Both of these nominees have the support of their home State Senators— Senator NELSON, a Democrat, and Senator RUBIO, a Republican. The two Senators have set aside partisan actions, and the Senate Judiciary Committee has set aside partisan actions by voting for the nominees unanimously. Why should they be held up because of partisan actions on this floor?" Good question -- anyone have an answer?"

Senate Judiciary Committee approves Higginson and Triche-Milazzo judicial nominations (Times-Picayune [LA] , 07/14/11)
Glenn Sugameli, who runs the "Judging the Environment" project for Defenders of Wildlife, which monitors the judicial confirmation process, said in the current environment, Vitter could play a critical role. "Strong home-state senator pressure for floor votes could make the difference in whether these nominees avoid the limbo to which Louisiana's Jolivette-Brown and other consensus judicial nominees have been consigned by anonymous GOP holds," Sugameli said.

Texas crisis complex (San Antonio Express-News [TX] , 07/09/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter To the Editor: "Martin's invaluable column contains one mistake; Texas' two senators do not “have a constitutional right to block presidential nominees in the Senate.” Ironically, Sen. John Cornyn insisted that the Senate must “provide the up-or-down vote the U.S. Constitution demands” on judicial nominees even though he later voted to filibuster President Obama's appellate and district court nominees. In context, Martin's description of the “six remaining judicial vacancies” and the accompanying Express-News editorial asking for a swifter move to confirm Obama nominees and fill two seats that lack nominations, were entirely appropriate. The Texas “justice delayed is justice denied” crisis, however, is broader. As Martin previously reported, Cornyn and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison recently co-sponsored a bill to create more judgeships in the Texas border area."

Different CO2 take (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review [PA] , 07/07/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "The editorial "The EPA & the courts: The CO2 question" (June 27 and TribLIVE.com) misdescribes a new U.S. Supreme Court decision while ignoring a previous one. First, only federal common law claims were barred by the latest ruling; it did not, as the editorial claims, reject "a lawsuit that sought to use public-nuisance laws to force utilities to cut CO2 emissions." In fact, the decision asked lower courts to decide if the Clean Air Act allows the case's state common law public nuisance claims and noted that the Clean Water Act allows "nuisance claim(s) pursuant to the law of the source State." Second, the editorial misleadingly claims that "EPA's fallacious classification of carbon dioxide as a pollutant was left unaddressed. ... Not at issue was EPA regulating CO2 as a pollutant ..." In 2007, however, the court ruled that "Because greenhouse gases fit well within the Clean Air Act's capacious definition of 'air pollutant,' we hold that EPA has the statutory authority to regulate the emission of such gases from new motor vehicles." In the current case, only Justices Alito and Thomas distanced themselves from that 2007 ruling, noting that they assumed "for the sake of argument" that it is correct."

Court is correct on air authority (Chattanooga Times Free Press [TN] , 06/25/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: The Free Press editorial, “Nobody wants pollution, but ...,” (June 22) accurately describes the U.S. Supreme Court’s new ruling reaffirming the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Act authority to curb global warming. Unfortunately, the editorial misleadingly states that: “We all want clean air and clean water. But obviously, proper regulation of such matters cannot be reasonably prescribed by our federal courts.” The court set forth for global warming a general “prescribed order of decisionmaking — the first decider under the Act is the expert administrative agency, the second, federal judges” reviewing EPA rulemaking. Moreover, for clean water, and potentially for clean air issues including global warming, the court reaffirmed the centuries-old federal judicial role in regulating pollution. Specifically, the Court reiterated that the Clean Water Act does not bar an injured individual’s “nuisance claim pursuant to the law of the source State” and allowed lower courts to decide if the Clean Air Act allowed global warming nuisance claims under state common law.

Sugameli Comment on: The Other Decision: The Supreme Court Extinguishes Creative Climate Change Litigation  (Huffington Post, 06/22/11)
"Prof. Brescia's valuable analysis may confuse readers on one point. I suggest that he clarify that the ruling is limited to FEDERAL nuisance law claims. E.g. he refers to: 'the plaintiffs alleging that these defendants­' emissions were creating a nuisance under federal and state common law. … Yet, in a definitive­, 8-0 decision released yesterday, the Supreme Court foreclosed this avenue of redress in the area of air quality and climate change.' He accurately mentions that 'federal common law offers no redress to the litigants at this time.' but is silent on the state common law claims, which may well confuse readers. The Court quoted its prior holding that the Clean Water Act does not preclude aggrieved individual­s from bringing a 'nuisance claim pursuant to the law of the source State' and allowed lower courts to decide if the Clean Air Act allowed nuisance claims under state common law in this case. AEP v. CT at pp. 15-16. Ilya Shapiro's Cato Institute analysis: 'In Global Warming Case, Supreme Court Reaches Correct Result But Leaves Room for Mischievou­s Litigation' lamented that 'the Court left open the possibilit­y of claims on state common-law grounds such as nuisance.'"

Editorial: One for the birds Supreme Court backs EPA ban on a crop pesticide that's deadly to avians (Houston Chronicle, 06/16/11)
"The EPA decision confirmed what we've been saying for years: carbofuran is a deadly poison that has absolutely no place in our food or the environment," says Jason Rylander, senior staff attorney for Defenders of Wildlife. "The court's action means that, in this case, the health and safety of the American people and our nation's wildlife have trumped the profits of powerful corporations."

Grassley wants more discussion on Green (Daily Record [NY], 06/09/11)
Denise M. Champagne: "“It is extremely unusual for a district court nominee with home-state-senator support like Green to be held up in committee,” said Glenn Sugameli, staff attorney for Judging the Environment, who has headed its federal judicial nominations project since 2001. “It would be very unusual for a district court nominee like Mike Green, who is supported by both home-state senators to be delayed beyond the next Senate Judiciary meeting, which is what Sen. Grassley seemed to be suggesting this morning.” Sugameli said GOP senators have been holding over every Obama judicial nominee once until the committee’s subsequent executive business meeting, which, “as Sen. Leahy says, is their right, but which Democratic senators did not do to President George W. Bush’s non-controversial judicial nominees.”"

Grassley wants more discussion on Green (Daily Review [NY], 06/09/11)
“It is extremely unusual for a district court nominee with home-state-senator support like Green to be held up in committee,” said Glenn Sugameli, staff attorney for Judging the Environment, who has headed its federal judicial nominations project since 2001. “It would be very unusual for a district court nominee like Mike Green, who is supported by both home-state senators to be delayed beyond the next Senate Judiciary meeting, which is what Sen. Grassley seemed to be suggesting this morning.” Sugameli said GOP senators have been holding over every Obama judicial nominee once until the committee’s subsequent executive business meeting, which, “as Sen. Leahy says, is their right, but which Democratic senators did not do to President George W. Bush’s non-controversial judicial nominees.”

YOUR VIEW: It is Jeff Sessions who misses point on filibustering nominees (Birmingham News [AL] , 06/06/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: It is U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions' June 2 letter, "Senate's duty is to block judicial nominees like Liu," that "misses an important point," not the News' May 26 editorial he criticizes. Sessions falsely claims Goodwin Liu "believes the Constitution can be effectively rewritten by judges" who are "empowered to redefine the Constitution to advance the political agendas they favor." That claim is belied by Liu's record, his testimony in response to questions from Sessions and others, and the broad support for Liu's nomination from leading conservatives. Ironically, Sessions seems to believe individual senators are empowered to redefine the Constitution to advance their political agendas. In opposing Democratic filibusters, he insisted "there is no doubt the Founders understood that confirmation of a judicial nomination requires only a simple majority vote," so filibusters of nominees were in "violation of the Constitution." Yet Sessions voted to filibuster Liu, even though the Constitution was not amended by the "Gang of 14" senators' agreement he describes.

Props & Disses 6.01.2011: Lummis, Barrasso seek to inure feds from lawsuits - DISS (Jackson Hole Weekly [WY] , 06/01/11)
Mike Senatore, Vice President of Conservation for Defenders of Wildlife: “The Lummis-Barrasso bill is a clear attempt to silence those citizens, small businesses and nonprofit organizations that don’t have the financial resources to take action on their own . . . And by specifically targeting environmental groups, the members of Congress who support this bill have shown their complete disregard for protecting America’s wildlife heritage and natural resources for future generations.”

Same as voting ‘No’  (Salt Lake Tribune [UT], 05/25/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch has repeatedly insisted, as he did in 2003, that “Every judicial nominee who reaches the Senate floor deserves an up or down vote. That’s fair and what the Constitution requires.” On May 19, however, Hatch’s vote on a filibuster against Goodwin Liu’s long-delayed judicial nomination helped deny an up or down vote that Hatch insists “the Constitution requires.” Matt Canham reported that Hatch “was the only senator to vote ‘present’ on Thursday. He refuses to vote to block a nomination from going forward but didn’t want his vote misconstrued as supporting Liu’s nomination.” (“Lee cites Alito criticism in voting against judicial nomination,” Tribune, May 20) But as columnist Jamie Dupree explained: “There’s only one problem with that argument — voting ‘Present’ on a cloture motion is the same as voting ‘No.’ You need 60 ‘Yes’ votes to break a filibuster — and it doesn’t matter how many senators vote ‘Present’ or ‘No.’’”

Senate GOP Leader Predicts Historic Failure for Obama Nominee (Fox News, 05/19/11)
Quotes Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli "expert in the area of federal judicial selection"

GOP On Track To Block Obama Judicial Nominee For First Time (Fox News, 05/19/11)
A expert in the area of federal judicial selection, attorney Glenn Sugameli, questioned both Thune and Isakson this time around. "Do Sens. Thune and Isakson think the Constitution has been amended recently to allow filibusters of judicial nominees? They insisted the Constitution requires up or down votes for all judicial nominees in major 2005 Floor speeches, which Sen. Isakson reiterated two weeks ago."

‘I would never filibuster any president’s judicial nominee’ (Washington Monthly, 05/19/11)
Steve Benen: Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney at Judging the Environment, and my go-to guy on matters related to judicial nominees, said in a statement, “The depths of partisan, unprincipled hypocrisy were plumbed by the many Republican Senators who voted to filibuster Goodwin Liu’s nomination after denouncing all such filibusters and insisting the Constitution requires up-or-down votes for all judicial nominees.”

Key Senators to Support Filibuster of Goodwin Liu (National Law Journal, 05/18/11)
Liu’s supporters said the Republicans are contradicting statements they’ve made against judicial filibusters since at least the George W. Bush administration. Glenn Sugameli, who follows judicial nominations for Defenders of Wildlife, pointed to a statement Isakson made two weeks ago as reported by the conservative Web site CNSNews.com. “As I said repeatedly during the years President Bush was in office, I believe every president deserves an up-or-down vote on their judicial nominees,” Isakson told the Web site. “In addition, the U.S. Constitution says it is the Senate’s responsibility to give ‘advice and consent’ to the president’s judicial nominees, and the way to comply with the Constitution is to have an up-or-down vote on these nominees.”

End Obstruction Now on Goodwin Liu, Commentators Say (American Constitution Society Blog, 05/18/11)
"Read all past commentary on Liu’s nomination at Judging the Environment [link]"

Letter: Cornyn has flip-flopped (Amarillo Globe-News [TX], 05/15/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "Texas GOP U.S. Sen. John Cornyn almost single-handedly pushed to filibuster a President Obama nominee with bipartisan support to fill a Rhode Island U.S. trial court seat. Cornyn's position directly violated his 2004 insistence that "the U.S. Constitution demands" up-or-down votes on judges. In contrast, 11 Republicans voted to end the filibuster. Strangely, Cornyn denied the Amarillo Globe-News' editorial description of how this threatened filibuster constituted a flip-flop. Cornyn's explanation rejects Original Intent and agrees with those who say the Constitution should be interpreted in light of modern health care and other situations the Founders did not foresee. "I argued then, and still believe today, that filibusters of judicial nominees are not what the Founders intended. Yet, the Founders did not foresee the systematic partisan obstruction of judges nominated by our former president." But does Sen. Cornyn seriously believe he can deny a "vote the U.S. Constitution demands" because of recent actions by "a minority of senators"? Cornyn's filibuster also violated the "precedent" he relied on. The filibusters Sen. Cornyn cited were limited to some of President George W. Bush's appeals court nominees, all of whom lacked any bipartisan support in the Senate Judiciary Committee. In voting to end Cornyn's filibuster, GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander explained that a Senate filibuster has never blocked confirmation of a nominee for 677 district court seats. Indeed, trial-level decisions do not even bind other judges."

Senate Vote Cleared for Embattled Nominee  (Gavel Grab [Justice at Stake blog], 05/06/11)
Regarding the scheduling of Senate action on Chen’s nomination, Glenn Sugameli of Defenders of Wildlife said, “This is important but not particularly surprising; the 63-33 cloture vote on Jack McConnell forestalled a widely anticipated filibuster against Edward Chen’s long-delayed nomination to the Northern District of California.” Sugameli, an attorney, has headed the environmental community’s Judging the Environment project.

Snowe, Collins lauded for judicial nomination stances (Portland Press Herald [ME] , 05/05/11)
Still, the Maine senators’ decision to vote against their GOP leadership’s attempted filibuster “exemplified consistency and integrity,” says Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney with the Washington-based Defenders of Wildlife’s Judging the Environment project on judicial nominations. Their vote to end the filibuster is an example of helping prevent the stalling of Obama judicial nominees, even if Collins and Snowe were opposed to the nomination, Sugameli says.

SENATE GOP FILIBUSTER OF JUDICIAL NOMINEE FAILS.. (Washington Monthly, 05/04/11)
"Thanks to Glenn Sugameli at Judging the Environment, my go-to expert on judicial nominees and confirmations, for the background info and links."

Who's Cornyn kidding? (San Antonio Express-News [TX] , 04/27/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Your Turn: "Sen. John Cornyn's letter bizarrely denied the Express-News Editorial Board statement that he flip-flopped by threatening to filibuster a federal trial court nominee. “I argued then,” he said, “and still believe today, that filibusters of judicial nominees are not what the Founders intended. Yet, the Founders did not foresee the systematic partisan obstruction of judges nominated by our former president.” But Cornyn insisted in a 2004 floor speech that the Senate “provide the up-or-down vote the U.S. Constitution demands.” He did not refer to what “the Founders intended the U.S. Constitution to demand.” Does Cornyn really believe “a minority of senators” can create a “precedent” that would deny a “vote the U.S. Constitution demands”? Also, in two major respects, Cornyn's threatened filibuster violates the “precedent” he relies on of filibusters against some of President George W. Bush's appeals court nominations. First, Cornyn would extend filibusters to nominees for 677 district court seats, whose trial-level decisions do not bind other judges. Second, he would filibuster a nomination with bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee, where a Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., voted three times for the nominee to fill a Rhode Island federal judgeship."

Judgeship logjam (Kansas City Star, 04/25/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "The federal judicial vacancy crisis has worsened as empty judgeships have almost doubled since President Barack Obama took office. In 2009, 10 Republican senators joined Democrats in voting to end the filibuster of Obama’s first appeals court nominee. Since then, Republican filibuster threats have even held up many nominees to trial-level district courts, whose decisions do not bind other judges. Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said he may filibuster a district nominee who has bipartisan support both in his home-state of Rhode Island and in the Judiciary Committee, where Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has voted for him three times. Soon, the Senate will decide whether or not to allow yes-or-no votes on committee-approved nominees for empty judgeship."

JUDICIAL OPENINGS: Senate filibusters could create a crisis (Idaho Statesman, 04/22/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "“Federal judge, 103, still hearing cases in Kansas” (April 10) explained how U.S. District Judge Wesley Brown’s “service also epitomizes how the federal court system keeps working even as litigation steadily increases, new judgeships remain rare, and judicial openings go unfilled for months or years.” Indeed, an Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts spokesman said, “Senior judges keep the federal court system afloat given the rising caseloads.” In 2005, Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo and then-Sen. Larry Craig “continue(d) to stress that the Constitution requires the Senate to hold up-or-down votes on all nominees.” Recently, however, threatened filibusters by some Senate Republicans have created a crisis by blocking up-or-down votes to fill judicial vacancies. Indeed, empty judgeships have almost doubled since President Obama took office. Soon, senators will vote on filibusters with unprecedented reach. One targeted nominee has bipartisan support both in his home state of Rhode Island and in the Judiciary Committee, where Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) voted for him three times. This and other filibusters would even extend to nominees for 677 trial level district court seats, whose decisions do not control other judges."

Judicial nominees (Fort Worth Star-Telegram [TX], 04/09/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "'Advice and consent' means voting, not obstructing" (See: Editorial, Tuesday) aptly focused on Texas Sen. John Cornyn's statement that he might support a filibuster of a trial court nominee despite Cornyn's prior insistence that "the U.S. Constitution demands" up-or-down votes on nominees. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison also stated repeatedly on the Senate floor that requiring 60 votes to end a filibuster against a judicial nominee would be "changing the Constitution." So far, the actions by Cornyn and Hutchison have been consistent with their words; they have never voted against ending a filibuster of a judicial nominee. Now, will either senator violate what they have insisted the Constitution requires by blocking an up-or-down vote on whether to confirm a lower-court judge?

Senate must allow votes on judicial nominees (Richmond Times-Dispatch [VA], 03/29/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "In their recent Commentary column "It's time to make tough choices," Sens. Mark R. Warner and Saxby Chambliss explained how they "have been working in a bipartisan partnership to" deal with deficits and the debt. In another area that cries out for bipartisan action, Warner and Chambliss could also convince their colleagues to heed bipartisan calls to solve the judicial vacancy crisis. During Barack Obama's presidency, federal judicial vacancies have almost doubled to 95, including 42 judicial emergencies designated by the U.S. Courts. Last year, Chambliss wrote: "I continue to believe that the Senate should act without undue delay in the prompt consideration of judicial nominees." Meanwhile, Warner coordinated speeches from many senators on the need to allow up or down floor votes on nominees for empty judgeships. Justice delayed is justice denied, as vacancies increasingly create logjams. Based upon their records, Warner and Chambliss could make a difference."

ON JUDGES, 'PROGRESS' IS RELATIVE.... (Washington Monthly, 03/18/11)
"* Update: A special thanks to Glenn Sugameli at Judging the Environment, my go-to expert on judicial nominees and confirmations, for helping me with some of the background info I needed for this post."

Slain judge supported 9th Circuit split (Washington Briefs, 03/16/11)
UPDATE: Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judiciary issues for Defenders of Wildlife, takes issue with Roll’s conclusions. “Judge Roll was not politically motivated,” he said in an email. “In fact, however, while not everyone supporting a split was ‘simply politically motivated’ [as Roll described it elsewhere in his article] and some who were would not admit it - the political power behind attempts to split the 9th Circuit has always come from industry and politicians who were simply politically motivated.” More on Sugameli’s work can be seen here.

Time to resolve judicial vacancies  (Telegraph [Nashua, NH], 03/09/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "Justice delayed is truly justice denied. People are facing massive court backlogs, as reflected in the fact that the U.S. courts have declared 47 vacancies to be emergencies. The bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation from New Hampshire could make a major difference in responding to nonpartisan calls to solve the judicial vacancy crisis."

Keep judicial nominations moving (Vindicator [Youngstown, OH], 03/02/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "Ohio’s Senators could play a vital role in responding to nonpartisan calls to solve the judicial vacancy crisis. Newly-elected Republican Senator Rob Portman took the first step in joining with Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in approving a Senate ban on unexplained secret holds that blocked and delayed many consensus nominees. Senate floor votes are required to fill more than 100 federal judicial vacancies, almost double the number when Obama took office. Especially in areas affected by 47 vacancies the U.S. Courts have declared to be emergencies, justice delayed is justice denied."

Brookings Forum: BREAKING THE JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS AND CONFIRMATIONS LOGJAM (Brookings, 02/28/11)
Lengthy exchange between Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli and panel member Manus Cooney at Forum transcript pp. 24-27

Sugameli: Filling vacant judgeships (MetroWest Daily News [MA], 02/16/11)
"Justice delayed is truly justice denied, as people increasingly face massive court backlogs. Indeed, the U.S. Courts determined 44 current vacancies to be emergencies, and there are widespread nonpartisan calls to solve the judicial vacancy crisis. Sen. Scott Brown recently joined with Sen. John Kerry in confirming Denise Casper to the federal district court for Massachusetts, and in approving a ban on unexplained secret holds that blocked many nominees. Together, the Massachusetts' bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation could help ensure that nominees to fill judgeships receive timely Floor votes." Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor

Sugameli: Filling vacant judgeships (Milford Daily News [MA], 02/16/11)
Letter: Your editorial, "Judge shortage" (Feb. 15), pointed out that "on the federal bench, there are 101 vacancies, nearly double the number when Obama took office." Justice delayed is truly justice denied, as people increasingly face massive court backlogs. Indeed, the U.S. Courts determined 44 current vacancies to be emergencies, and there are widespread nonpartisan calls to solve the judicial vacancy crisis. Sen. Scott Brown recently joined with Sen. John Kerry in confirming Denise Casper to the federal district court for Massachusetts, and in approving a ban on unexplained secret holds that blocked many nominees. Together, the Massachusetts' bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation could help ensure that nominees to fill judgeships receive timely Floor votes." GLENN SUGAMELI, Staff attorney, Judging the Environment

SENATE: Enviro groups urge action on judicial confirmations  (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 02/15/11)
Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial nominations for Defenders of Wildlife, said filling judicial vacancies is important to environmental groups because "people and endangered wildlife suffer and die when corporations illegally continue to pollute and destroy the environment for years because of the massive court backlogs caused by empty judgeships."

Grassley's action to be put to the test (Dubuque Telegraph Herald [IA], 02/08/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: Last year, secret holds denied floor votes to 19 judicial nominees who were approved by the Judiciary Committee (14 with Grassley's support). Now, as the committee's new ranking Republican, Grassley will help determine whether the secret hold change makes a difference. An early test will be bipartisan calls to reduce massive federal court delays caused by more than 100 judicial vacancies, including 49 court-designated judicial emergencies. Much could depend on what Grassley meant when he recently said that he wants to move "consensus nominees" after "a thorough review.

A test of the Senate (Times Record [ME], 02/08/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "partisan obstruction reduced confirmations of President Obama’s trial and appeals court judges to 60. In contrast, a Democratic Senate confirmed 100 in President George W. Bush’s first two years. Last year, floor votes were even denied to 16 judicial nominees whom the Judiciary Committee had approved on unanimous or bipartisan votes. Court cases face massive delays as federal judicial vacancies have soared to more than 100, including 49 judicial emergencies designated by the U.S. Courts. Bipartisan calls to solve the judicial vacancy crisis pose a clear test of whether the Senate can still function."

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James Graves Scheduled For Judicial Re-Nomination Vote (Minority Defense Litigator: Diverse Lawyers Who Defend Corporate America, 01/24/11)
"I learned from Glenn Sugameli today that Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James E. Graves, Jr. has been placed on the agenda of the Senate Judiciary Committee for a Committee Executive Business Meeting to vote on judicial renominees who had hearings and unanimous committee votes in the last Congress. ... For a detailed history regarding Justice Grave’s nomination, please see the nomination’s history here. {link to Judging the Environment nominee page on James E. Graves, Jr.)

Prompt votes on judges  (Bucks County Courier Times [PA], 01/24/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "Those denied floor votes included 13 who were approved without dissent by Judiciary Committee members and an equal number who would have filled judicial emergencies designated by the U.S. Courts. New Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., recognizes that "there have been too many vacancies, and several of them have lasted for way too long." He could play a key role by insisting on prompt floor votes on these and other nominees to fill judgeships."

Confirm new judges (San Antonio Express-News [TX] , 01/21/11)
"In the Judiciary Committee, Cornyn supported 15 of 18 Obama administration nominees, and Texas' senior senator, Kay Bailey Hutchison, took issue with the Senate's rule that nominees are being held to a standard of requiring 60 votes instead of 51. “That is changing the Constitution of the United States,” she said. In spite of what Cornyn said, political wrangling did deny floor votes to Saldaña and 18 other nominees who were supported by both of their home state senators and approved by the Judiciary Committee. ... A solution could emerge if Cornyn and Hutchison insist on prompt floor votes on Saldaña and other nominees to fill judgeships." Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor

Tenn. senators could help reduce huge court backlogs (Daily Herald [Columbia, TN], 01/20/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "Those denied floor votes included 16 who had bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee and 13 who would have filled judicial emergencies designated by the U.S. Courts. Tennessee’s Republican senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker supported home-state nominee Jane Branstetter Stranch’s confirmation to the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in September 2010. Indeed, Sen. Alexander previously urged that a long-delayed vote be held on Stranch, explaining that “It has long been my position … that a president’s judicial nominees deserve an up-or-down vote.” Both senators could help reduce massive court backlogs by insisting that the Senate schedule prompt floor votes on committee-approved judicial nominees."

Vote On Nomination Gets Closer‎ (Times Record [Fort Smith, AR], 01/18/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "Among the "unopposed but unconfirmed nominees is former Western District U.S. Attorney P.K. Holmes," whom the Judiciary Committee endorsed unanimously to fill a judgeship that the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has declared a "judicial emergency vacancy." The Times Record's editorial discussed Arkansas Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor's success in reaching across the aisle "to end filibustering on several Bush nominees." Now, Arkansas Republican Sen. John Boozman can help ensure the Senate will schedule votes to fill the 45 emergencies and nearly 100 total judicial vacancies nationwide. Indeed, even before Boozman was sworn in, his spokeswoman recognized that "The confirmation of P.K. Holmes is important to helping with the heavy caseload in the state,""

Coburn's promise (Tulsa World [OK], 01/17/11)
"Unfortunately, even if consensus federal judicial nominees emerge soon, floor votes could well be delayed indefinitely or blocked outright. President Obama just resubmitted 19 judicial nominees whose floor votes were blocked by Senate Republicans. Thirteen of these had been approved by Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn and other Judiciary Committee members without dissent. An equal number would have filled judicial emergencies designated by the U.S. courts. Chief Justice John Roberts' year-end report calls for urgent action to remedy the problem of vacant federal judgeships. Vacancies have risen to almost 100, nearly one half of which are emergencies. Coburn could make a difference by simply fulfilling his 2005 vow that: "I will continue to insist that the judicial nominations from any president - Republican or Democrat - receive the courtesy of an up-or-down vote."" Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor

Justice delayed results in justice denied  (Oklahoman, 01/16/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: "Senate Republicans blocked floor votes on 19 judicial nominees. Thirteen were approved without dissent by Oklahoma Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn and other Judiciary Committee members. An equal number would have filled judicial emergencies designated by the U.S. courts. In 2005, Coburn vowed that he would continue to insist that the judicial nominations from any president, Republican or Democrat, have the courtesy of an up-or-down vote. Now, Coburn can insist that floor votes be held on nominees to fill the 45 emergencies and nearly 100 total judicial vacancies nationwide."

Judicial vacancies can lead to justice denied (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [PA], 01/04/11)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "Despite the crisis that was created by more than 100 judicial vacancies, Senate Republicans blocked floor votes on 19 nominees. These included 13 whom the Judiciary Committee approved unanimously and an equal number who would fill judgeships that the U.S. courts have designated as judicial emergencies. Sen.-elect Pat Toomey, R-Pa., recognizes that "there have been too many vacancies, and several of them have lasted for way too long." Confirming judges can reduce the increasingly common problem of justice delayed becoming justice denied as memories fade and witnesses and parties pass away."

The Urgent Need to Confirm Judges (Daily Journal [CA] , 01/04/11)
Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor: “Nineteen nominees who won committee approval never got an up-or-down vote on the floor.” The unprecedented nature of Senate Republican obstruction is revealed by a closer look: the Judiciary Committee approved 13 of these nominees unanimously, and an equal number would have filled judicial emergencies designated by the U.S. Courts. Confirming judges can reduce the increasingly common problem of justice delayed becoming justice denied as memories fade and witnesses and parties pass away. Indeed, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.’s year-end report called for urgent action to remedy the problem of federal judicial vacancies."

The Cooler (South Florida Daily Blog, 01/03/11)
"here's what caught my eye. ...[Miami] Herald: They write letters. What they didn't do [reproduces Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor]

What they didn't do (Miami Herald, 01/03/11)
"The Dec. 26 editorial Surprising outcome of lame-duck Congress stated that, ``Senate Republicans also agreed to confirm 19 Obama judicial nominees whose appointments had been languishing for months.'' True, but Senate Republicans blocked floor votes on 19 other judicial nominees, including 13 whom the Judiciary Committee approved unanimously, and an equal number who would fill vacancies that U.S. courts have designated as ``judicial emergencies.''" Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor

Senate Agreement Ends Action on Four Contentious Judicial Nominations (Congressional Quarterly, 12/20/10)
“Obviously, the Senate is not going to be better next year,” said Glenn Sugameli, staff attorney for the Defenders of Wildlife’s Judging the Environment Project. “They should have pushed harder earlier. There’s no reason there shouldn’t have been earlier action on these nominees.”

Judges held hostage  (Salt Lake Tribune [UT], 12/18/10)
Letter to the Editor from Glenn Sugameli: "The thumb-down editorial “Vote on Matheson” (Our View, Dec. 5) explains how “the nomination of Scott M. Matheson Jr. to the bench of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is being held hostage to partisan gridlock” and exhorts Sen. Orrin Hatch to “publicly urge his Republican colleagues to bring this nomination to a vote.” The Senate should indeed vote on Matheson and on 37 other pending judicial nominees, 29 of which were unanimously cleared by the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Hatch is a member. Seven of the cleared nominees who had one or more committee “no” votes are women, people of color, or both. Fairness, and the need to fill unprecedented numbers of judicial vacancies, argue for full Senate votes on all nominees. For example, prominent conservative Republican supporters of Goodwin Liu’s nomination to a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals “emergency vacancy” include Kenneth Starr and Clint Bolick. President George W. Bush’s White House ethics counsel Richard Painter explained that Liu “should not be controversial.” Seven Republican-appointed judges signed a 9th Circuit Judicial Council letter describing “our desperate need for judges.”"

Forum: Give all judicial nominees a vote (Journal Star [Peoria, IL], 12/15/10)
Glenn Sugameli: "nearly all - seven of eight - of the nominees with one or more "no" votes in committee are women, people of color, or both. Fairness and efforts to add diversity to the overwhelmingly white male federal bench argue for Senate lame-duck votes on all nominees. For example, supporters of Goodwin Liu's nomination to fill a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals emergency vacancy include prominent conservative Republicans such as Kenneth Starr and Clint Bolick. President George W. Bush's White House ethics counsel, Richard Painter, explained that Liu "should not be controversial." Seven active Republican-appointed judges signed a recent 9th Circuit Judicial Council letter that cited "our desperate need for judges" and urged the Senate to fill the vacancies "promptly.""

Vote on nominees (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review [PA] , 12/14/10)
"Don Stewart, spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, tries to blame President Obama and the Senate Judiciary Committee for judicial vacancies by claiming that "only 23" district court nominees are awaiting final votes. At the time, Republicans were blocking votes on all 26 (now 30) district court nominees and eight circuit court nominees. All obtained the support of their Republican and Democrat home-state senators," Glenn Sugameli published Letter to the Editor

Unfair delays for federal judges (Herald Sun [NC] , 12/11/10)
" There are now 38 judicial nominees awaiting floor votes. All are supported by their home-state Republican and Democratic senators, and 29 unanimously cleared the Judiciary Committee. Almost all (7 of 9) nominees with one or more committee "no" votes are women, people of color, or both. Fairness and unprecedented numbers of judicial vacancies argue for immediate Senate votes on all nominees." Glenn Sugameli, published Letter to the Editor

All deserve vote (Scranton Times-Tribune [PA], 12/10/10)
"[T]he Senate can and should vote on all pending nominees. For example, supporters of Goodwin Liu's nomination to fill a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals emergency vacancy include prominent conservative Republicans, including Kenneth Starr and Clint Bolick. President George W. Bush's White House ethics counsel Richard Painter explained that Liu "should not be controversial." Finally, seven of nine of the nominees with one or more no votes in committee are women, people of color, or both. Fairness, and efforts to add diversity to the overwhelmingly white male federal bench, argue for Senate votes on all nominees." Glenn Sugameli published Letter to the Editor

ACS Weekly Bulletin  (American Constitution Society Blog, 12/03/10)
"[T]he graph "shows a disappointing lack of major progress in the percentage of female federal judges in recent years," according to Glenn Sugameli, founder and head of the environmental community's Judging the Environment project on federal judicial nominations. Sugameli told ACSblog that President Obama's 43 confirmed judicial nominees include 22 women and 17 men and women of color, but that every nominee blocked by Senate obstruction is preventing further diversification on the federal bench."

JUDICIARY: Democrats pushing for judicial confirmations (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 12/02/10)
"Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial nominations for Defenders of Wildlife, predicted a deal in which noncontroversial nominees are bundled together and approved en masse. More controversial nominees could face individual votes, he suggested, and Reid might have to file a procedural motion ending debate in order to get an up-or-down vote on Liu."

Male Judges Far Outnumber Women Judges, Federal Court Graph Shows  (American Constitution Society Blog, 11/30/10)
Glenn Sugameli, founder and head of the environmental community's Judging the Environment project and website on federal judicial nominations, told ACSblog, "The U.S. Courts' Federal Bench Gender Snapshot shows a disappointing lack of major progress in the percentage of female federal judges in recent years." Sugameli continued, "President Obama's 43 confirmed judicial nominees include 22 women and 17 men and women of color. Senate Republican obstruction of every pending judicial nominee, however, is blocking votes that would increase the diversity of the federal bench. Ten of the 23 nominees awaiting Floor votes are women and 13 are men and women of color."

JUDICIAL VACANCIES: Senate should act on pending nominees (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [WI], 11/29/10)
Glenn Sugameli published Letter to the Editor: "as judicial vacancies soared to over 100, current and retired Republican-appointed federal judges have urged the Senate to stop delaying and act now on all the pending nominees. Floor votes on some of the 50 judicial emergencies, including the Western District of Wisconsin (Louis Butler Jr.) and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (Goodwin Liu and Mary Murguia), could also add African-American, Asian-American and Latina judges, respectively. Among 23 nominees awaiting floor votes are 10 women and 13 people of color (some are both)."

Fill judicial vacancies (Deseret News [UT] , 11/24/10)
Glenn Sugameli published Letter to the Editor: "Bizarrely, however, Senate Republican "holds" have even blocked Utah's Scott Matheson Jr. and other consensus nominees who have strong support from home-state Republican senators. In early June, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved Matheson's 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals nomination without dissent, and Sen. Orrin Hatch promised to "do everything in my power to get him through as soon as I can." Since then, judicial vacancies have soared to over 100, including 50 judicial emergencies, and current and retired Republican-appointed federal judges have urged the Senate to stop delaying and act now on all the pending nominees."

Glenn Sugameli: Obama nominees would diversify federal bench (Capital Times (WI), 11/19/10)
"President Obama’s 43 confirmed judicial nominees include 22 women and 17 people of color (some, of course, are both). The 23 nominees awaiting floor votes include 10 women, nine of whom the Judiciary Committee approved without dissent. Prominent pending nominees, including Butler and Goodwin Liu (9th Circuit Court of Appeals), are among the 13 people of color awaiting floor votes."

ACS Nov. 19, 2010 Weekly Bulletin (American Constitution Society Blog, 11/19/10)
"ACS member Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney at Defenders of Wildlife, was featured in an article in TPM about why 2011 will be a good time for the Senate to focus on judicial confirmations."

AFJ signs letter with over 50 groups calling for immediate votes on judicial nominees (Justice Watch, 11/17/10)
Links to Judging the Environment's post of letter signed by Defenders of Wildlife

ACS Weekly Bulletin Special Issue: ACS Priority Issues: A Year in Review (American Constitution Society Blog, 11/17/10)
Guest blogs: Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney at Defenders of Wildlife's Judging the Environment, describes the deepening federal judicial vacancy crisis. (9/30)

PUTTING NOMINATIONS HIGH ON THE SENATE'S TO-DO LIST (Washington Monthly, 11/16/10)
Steve Benen: So, what are senators to do for the next two years? Brian Beutler reports on a wise course of action. [includes excerpt quoting Glenn Sugameli] If I'm Harry Reid, I'm getting ready to make this one of my top priorities in the next Congress."

Silver Lining: Why Dems' Big Loss Could Pave The Way For Obama Nominees (Talking Points Memo, 11/15/10)
Brian Beutler: "Reid should concentrate Floor time on must pass bills, message and other votes that highlight differences and important matters that are or should be non-controversial, including confirming lifetime federal judges," Glenn Sugameli, an advocate for swift judicial confirmations, tells TPM. "All of Obama's nominees to circuit and district courts have had the support of their home-state Republican and Democratic senators and the vast majority have been non-controversial nominees who have been approved by the Judiciary Committee without objection and approved unanimously when they finally receive usually long-delayed Floor votes." "If one or more Republican senators force cloture votes on consensus nominees, they will accurately be seen as mindlessly obstructionist," Sugameli says. If they do not, nominees will be confirmed quickly."

Is a GOP House Better for Obama Nominees? (Atlantic, 11/15/10)
"TPM's Brian Beutler makes a counterintuitive point: now that Republicans control the House, President Obama's nominees might have an easier time making their ways through the Senate. ... "Reid should concentrate Floor time on must pass bills, message and other votes that highlight differences and important matters that are or should be non-controversial, including confirming lifetime federal judges," Glenn Sugameli, an advocate for swift judicial confirmations, tells TPM."

A silver lining on judicial confirmations? (Charleston Gazette [WV] , 11/15/10)
Discusses Brian Beutler's Talking Points Memo analysis and includes excerpts quoting Glenn Sugameli

Eagles and many others still wait for Senate votes (Greensboro News & Record [NC], 11/15/10)
Glenn Sugameli published Letter to the Editor: "“With a majority of women, state’s top court hits milestone (editorial, Nov. 10) correctly notes that “the federal bench still seems less welcoming.” The U.S. Senate can help change that during the lame-duck session. Floor votes are pending on 23 judicial nominees, including 10 women, nine of whom were approved by the Judiciary Committee without dissent."

Nomination Fights To Come (Yglesias, 11/15/10)
"[I]t would now make sense to dedicate much more Senate floor time to nominations. Brian Beutler reports that advocates are making the case: [reproduces portion of Beutler analysis quoting Glenn Sugameli]"

Judicial diversity (Kentucky Enquirer, 11/11/10)
Glenn Sugameli published Letter to the Editor: "Woolner's excellent column does not discuss one key result of this obstruction by Republican senators; it has unjustifiably prolonged the overwhelmingly white male makeup of the federal bench."

Judicial Diversity (Courier-Journal [KY] , 11/11/10)
Glenn Sugameli published Reader Letter: "one key result of this obstruction by Republican senators; it has unjustifiably prolonged the overwhelmingly white male makeup of the federal bench. The Senate's lame duck session can and should make a difference. The 23 nominees awaiting floor votes include 10 women, nine of whom the Judiciary Committee approved without dissent. President Obama's judicial selection has begun to diversify the federal bench; there are 22 women among his 43 confirmed nominees. In addition, 17 Obama judges are people of color, and another 13 are awaiting floor votes."

Election likely to affect EPA lawsuits, judge nominations (USA Today, 11/05/10)
USA TODAY GREENHOUSE blog reproduces Greenwire report quoting Glenn Sugameli

LAW: Election likely to affect EPA litigation, judicial nominations  (New York Times, 11/04/10)
Glenn Sugameli, who tracks judicial nominees from an environmental perspective for Defenders of Wildlife, said the onus is on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to push through pending nominations during the lame-duck session this month. After the lame duck, Sugameli predicted that public dissatisfaction with Congress would "increase pressure for Senate Republicans to get things done, especially as judicial vacancies have soared to over 100."

Nominees on hold (Akron Beacon Journal [OH], 11/04/10)
Glenn Sugameli published Letter to the Editor: "Blanket holds by anonymous Senate Republicans have blocked floor votes on Judge Pearson and 22 other judicial nominees the Judiciary Committee has approved. Retiring Sen. Voinovich told CNN that the upcoming lame duck session of Congress should work to demonstrate a commitment to problem-solving rather than partisan bickering. A good place to start would be voting to fill judicial vacancies, which have soared to over 100."

Judgeships lie vacant as Senate Republicans stall confirmations (Daily Princetonian [Princeton University, NJ], 10/19/10)
"[F]ederal court access has suffered as holds placed on candidates caused vacancies to soar. The number of vacant judgeships that U.S. courts have declared “judicial emergencies” has risen to 49, from 20." Glenn Sugameli '76, published Letter to the Editor

Obama Slams Republican Leadership for ‘Unprecedented Obstruction’ of Judicial Nominations  (American Constitution Society Blog, 10/01/10)
"As noted yesterday in an ACSblog guest post by Glenn Sugameli, senators left town yesterday without confirming one nominee, and that now the situation is only likely to worsen."

Federal Judicial Vacancy Crisis Deepens as Unnamed Senate Republicans Block Floor Votes on All 23 Pending Judicial Nominees (American Constitution Society Blog, 09/30/10)
Glenn Sugameli Guest Post: "nominees remain frozen, however, despite announced support from Republican home-state senators who are unable to convince their colleagues to allow a vote (or are unwilling to follow Sen. Alexander's successful example). These include Utah Sens. Orrin Hatch and Robert Bennett (10th Circuit nominee Scott Matheson, Jr.); Arizona Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain (9th Circuit nominee Mary Murguia); Mississippi Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker (district court nominee Carlton Reeves); and North Carolina's Richard Burr (4th Circuit nominee Albert Diaz and district court nominee Catherine Eagles)."

Nominees held back (Free Lance-Star [VA] , 09/15/10)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "unprecedented Senate Republican blanket secret holds are denying floor votes to many Judiciary Committee-approved judicial nominees. Federal court access has suffered as vacancies have soared to more than 100. Frozen nominees include John A. Gibney Jr. (Virginia District Court) and Albert Diaz (4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Virginia). Both were OK'd in committee without dissent months ago for vacancies that the U.S. courts have declared "judicial emergencies," which have risen from 20 to 49."

Blaming Obama for lack of judges 'absurd' (Daily Progress [Charlottesville, VA], 09/12/10)
"Federal court access has suffered as vacancies have soared to more than 100. Frozen nominees include John A. Gibney Jr. (Virginia district court) and Albert Diaz (4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Virginia). Both were OK’d in committee without dissent months ago for vacancies that the U.S. courts have declared “judicial emergencies,” emergencies that have risen from 20 to 49." [Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor]

When Republicans deny obstructing Obama's judicial nominees, they're lying (Cleveland Plain Dealer [OH], 09/11/10)
"Senate Republicans continue unprincipled, blanket denials of floor votes to judicial nominees, including many whom the Judiciary Committee approved without dissent months ago." [Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor}

Obama nominees blocked (San Francisco Chronicle [CA], 09/09/10)
"Senate Republicans continue unprecedented across-the-board denials of floor votes to more than 20 judicial nominees, including California and other nominees whom the Judiciary Committee approved without dissent months ago." {Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor)

GOP stalling on judicial nominees (Charleston Gazette [WV] , 09/07/10)
"After an Aug. 4 Public Policy Polling survey showed North Carolina voters overwhelmingly (58 percent to 16 percent) supported prompt votes on Judges Albert Diaz and James Wynn, senators finally confirmed Wynn by unanimous consent. Diaz, however, remains in limbo, along with many others who were approved in committee without dissent months ago. Senate Republicans continue unprecedented denials of floor votes to more than 20 judicial nominees." Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor

GOP stonewalling president's worthy judicial nominees (Republican-American [CT] , 09/03/10)
"First, it only takes one senator to deny a vote on a judicial nomination or to force a nomination's return to the White House. as happened with Judge Chatigny. Because holds can be secret, all we know is one or more Republicans refused the unanimous consent required for an up-and-down floor vote. Second, Senate Republicans continue unprecedented across-the-board blockages, regardless of the merits, of judicial nominees." Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor

Burr should pressure GOP not to block N.C. judges (Asheville Citizen-Times [NC] , 09/01/10)
"Senate Republican holds (threatened filibusters) continue to freeze judicial nominees. These include Diaz, whom the Judiciary Committee approved (19-0) the same day as Wynn more than six months ago; and N.C. federal district court nominee Catherine Eagles (also approved in committee without dissent months ago). Sen. Burr is unable or unwilling to convince his fellow Republicans to allow votes on Diaz and Eagles." Glenn Sugameli, Letter to the Editor

GOP blockage (Wichita Eagle [KS] , 08/31/10)
"Senate Republicans continue unprecedented across-the-board blockages, regardless of the merits, of judicial nominees. They will not allow the Senate to vote on more than 20 judicial nominees who were approved in committee, including many endorsed without dissent months ago. Federal judicial vacancies have risen to more than 100." [Glenn Sugameli. Letter to the Editor]

Judicial Nominees Still Being Blocked (Pilot [So Pines, NC] , 08/30/10)
"You aptly described “the virtual freeze that Republicans have imposed on judges and others nominated by President Obama” and how GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell blocked floor votes on nominations of North Carolina judges Albert Diaz and Jim Wynn to the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. After an Aug. 4 Public Policy Polling survey showed North Carolina voters overwhelmingly (58 percent to 16 percent) supported prompt votes on Diaz and Wynn, senators finally confirmed Judge Wynn by unanimous consent. [Sen. Richard Burr is unable or unwilling to convince his Republican colleagues to allow floor votes on Diaz and Eagles." Glenn Sugameli published Letter to the Editor

Newest justice appeals to greenies; Green groups give Kagan OK (Chico News & Review [CA], 08/26/10)
"Dozens of environmental groups signed a letter recently applauding the Senate’s 63-37 vote to appoint Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court,"

Burr should do more to move Diaz confirmation through U.S. Senate (Rocky Mount Telegram [NC] , 08/17/10)
Published Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "Sen. Burr’s press release absurdly states: “I hope the Majority Leader will put political gamesmanship aside and make the confirmation of Judge Diaz a priority.” Senate Republican holds (threatened filibusters) have blocked floor votes on many nominees. These include Diaz, whom the Judiciary Committee approved (19-0) the same day as Wynn more than six months ago; and N.C. Federal District Court nominee Catherine Eagles, who was also approved in committee without dissent months ago. While 58 percent of North Carolina voters support a prompt vote on Diaz (Public Policy Polling survey), Sen. Burr is unable or unwilling to convince his Republican colleagues to allow a vote."

Environment: How 'Green' Is Justice Kagan? (Forbes, 08/11/10)
"45 environmental groups signed a letter last week [link] in support of her nomination."

With Wynn confirmed, it’s Diaz’s turn for a vote (Greensboro News & Record [NC], 08/11/10)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "The question remains: Why has Sen. Richard Burr’s impotent support for Judge Diaz not convinced his fellow Republicans to allow a floor vote during the more than six months since the Judiciary Committee voted 19-0 to approve Diaz on the same day it approved Wynn? A new Public Policy Polling survey found that 58 percent of North Carolina voters said that the U.S. Senate should vote as soon as possible on both judges."

A Friend of the Earth Joins the Supreme Court (Earth Connection, 08/10/10)
"More than 40 national environmental organizations actively supported President Obama’s appointment of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. In a letter to Senators prior to last Thursday’s Senate approval of Kagan’s confirmation, the groups cited her “understanding of the importance of fair Court decisions that uphold, enforce, and correctly interpret laws that protect people, wildlife, and the environment.”"

SF Chron to GOP: Stop Obstructing the Nomination of Goodwin Liu (Confirm Goodwin Liu blog, 08/07/10)
Includes Los Angeles Times quote of "Glenn Sugameli, a lawyer for Defenders of Wildlife"

GOP Obstructionism Continues to Plague Obama's Judicial Nominees (MyDD, 08/07/10)
Includes quote from "Glenn Sugameli, a lawyer for Defenders of Wildlife.:

Senate delays two nominations to federal courts (Orange County Register [CA] , 08/07/10)
Glenn Sugameli, a lawyer, said he thought Liu and Chen “will be renominated in September, and the Democrats will make a strong push for a floor vote.”

Judge nominees must wait as Senate adjourns (Charleston Gazette [WV] , 08/07/10)
Re-print of Los Angeles Times article, quoting Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.

2 federal judge nominees dealt setback as Senate adjourns (Lexington Herald-Leader [KY], 08/06/10)
Quotes "Glenn Sugameli, a lawyer for Defenders of Wildlife"

Environmental Groups Smile on Kagan's Ascension to Supreme Court (Environment News Service, 08/06/10)
"A letter signed by 45 groups and sent to the senators on Tuesday says, "Kagan is extremely well qualified to serve on the Supreme Court and we endorse her nomination without qualification." The groups that signed the letter include some of the country's largest and most influential organizations such as the League of Conservation Voters, Earthjustice, the Wilderness Society, the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, Audubon, the National Hispanic Environmental Council and Greenpeace USA. Regional conservation groups are also represented."

Goodwin Liu Nomination Blocked (Los Angeles Times, 08/06/10)
Glenn Sugameli, a lawyer for Defenders of Wildlife, said he thought Liu and Chen could still be confirmed. "I believe they will be re-nominated in September, and the Democrats will make a strong push for a floor vote," he said.

2 federal judge nominees dealt setback as Senate adjourns (Sacramento Bee [CA] , 08/06/10)
Quotes Glenn Sugameli

SENATE: Kagan confirmed for Supreme Court  (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 08/05/10)
"Kagan was backed by some of the nation's largest environmental advocacy groups, 45 of which sent a letter urging the Senate to approve her nomination. The letter, which was written and circulated by Defenders of Wildlife, pointed to her statements during confirmation hearings that Congress has broad authority to pass environmental laws and that the Supreme Court should give them deference. "The court is narrowly and deeply split on critical constitutional and statutory environmental protection issues," the letter said. "Kagan's record and her Supreme Court confirmation hearing testimony demonstrate an essential understanding of the importance of fair Court decisions that uphold, enforce and correctly interpret laws that protect people, wildlife, and the environment.""

Comment on Kagan Whip Count: NY State Of Mind (National Journal, 08/02/10)
"Please add Sen. Mark Warner to YES VOTES Sen. Mark Warner's website includes a July 30th Statement " -Glenn Sugameli, Judging the Environment

Update to Kagan Whip Count: NY State Of Mind (National Journal, 08/02/10)
"AP is reporting Sen. "Baucus will support Elena Kagan for Supreme Court"" Glenn Sugameli, Judging the Environment

LATEST: Collins is a "Yes" (National Journal, 07/23/10)
Glenn Sugameli Vote Count update

Hotline Whip Count Lacks Three "Yes" Votes (National Journal, 07/23/10)
Comprehensive links to Elena Kagan Senator Statements on www.JudgingtheEnvironment dot org include three firm "Yes" votes that Hotline should add: An old and a new one from Senators' websites: Senator [Jack] Reed Will Vote for Kagan (Democrat - Rhode Island) 07/16/10 Dodd Statement in Support of Elena Kagan to be the Next Supreme Court Justice (Democrat - Connecticut) 07/23/10 Plus this POLITICO interview: Sen. Landrieu will back Kagan (Democrat - Louisiana) 07/14/10 "Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), who Republicans had hoped would join them, told POLITICO on Tuesday she’ll back Kagan." -Glenn Sugameli Judging the Environment Defenders of Wildlife Washington, D.C.

SUPREME COURT: Graham joins Democrats as Judiciary panel approves Kagan (Greenwire, 07/20/10)
"35 environmental organizations ... backed her in a letter sent yesterday to Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), the committee's ranking member. ..."The court is narrowly and deeply split on critical constitutional and statutory environmental protection issues," says the letter, which was written and circulated by Defenders of Wildlife. "Kagan's record and her Supreme Court confirmation hearing testimony demonstrate an essential understanding of the importance of fair Court decisions that uphold, enforce and correctly interpret laws that protect people, wildlife, and the environment.""

Joint Letter from Environmental Organizations  (ABA Journal, 07/19/10)
Senate Judiciary Committee link to: July 19, 2010 - Joint Letter from Environmental Organizations [Defenders of Wildlife, Audubon, Greenpeace USA, Earthjustice, League of Conservation Voters, Endangered Species Coalition, Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, The Wilderness Society, Advocates for the West, Alaska Center for the Environment, Alaska Wildlife Alliance, Kentucky Resources Council, Inc., Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Magic, Californians for Alternatives to Toxics, McKenzie Guardians, Citizens for Public Resources, Midwest Environmental Advocates, Conservation Northwest, Montana Environmental Information Center, Endangered Habitats League, Northwest Environmental Advocates, Friends of Blackwater, Oregon Wild, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Public Lands Without Livestock, Green Delaware, Soda Mountain Wilderness Council, Gulf Restoration Network, WaterWatch of Oregon, Idaho Conservation League, WildEarth Guardians, Idaho Rivers United, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation]

UPDATES to Kagan Whip Count: Specter A Yes (National Journal, 07/15/10)
"Four more Yes and one No All links to Kagan Senator Statements are on my website Judging the Environment (one word dot org) Hotline Whip Count still needs to add four YES Feinstein (statement on her website); Dorgan (statement on Senatus); Landrieu (Politico interview); Stabenow (statement on her website) and one No Chambliss (statement on his website)" -Glenn Sugameli. Judging the Environment

UPDATE to Hotline Whip Count: The Kagan Nomination (National Journal, 07/14/10)
"New YES vote. POLITICO reported today that "Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), who Republicans had hoped would join them, told POLITICO on Tuesday she’ll back Kagan."" Glenn Sugameli. Judging the Environment

UPDATE to Hotline Whip Count: The Kagan Nomination (National Journal, 07/13/10)
"Yet another July 13 YES vote from a Senator's website's press release: "Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced his intention to vote to confirm United States Solicitor General Elena Kagan as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court."" -Glenn Sugameli, Judging the Environment

UPDATE to Hotline Whip Count: The Kagan Nomination (National Journal, 07/13/10)
"Please add Sen. Michael Bennet to the Yes Votes; see his July 13 Press release ..." -Glenn Sugameli, Judging the Environment

UPDATE to Hotline Whip Count: The Kagan Nomination (National Journal, 07/13/10)
"Time for another update: Sen. Dianne Feinstein July 13 statement: "“I intend to vote YES on the nomination of Elena Kagan."" -Glenn Sugameli, Judging the Environment

UPDATE to Hotline Whip Count: The Kagan Nomination (National Journal, 07/13/10)
"Please add Sen. Leahy to the Yes Votes; see his July 13 Statement ..." -Glenn Sugameli, Judging the Environment

Update to Hotline Whip Count: The Kagan Nomination (National Journal, 07/13/10)
"Please add Sen. Durbin to Hotline's Count of Yes votes; he concluded a July 12 Floor speech "I will be proud to cast a vote in favor of the nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court." Also, Sen. Cardin's July 11 Op-Ed concluded "I believe Elena Kagan possesses the qualifications and judicial temperament to be a member of the Supreme Court."" -Glenn Sugameli, Judging the Environment

Comment re: Hotline Whip Count: The Kagan Nomination (National Journal, 07/09/10)
Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "Just added to my Judging the Environment website (one word dot org) compilation of over 130 Senator Statements on Elena Kagan: [Sen. Mark] Udall to support Kagan (Democrat - Colorado) 07/09/10 Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., will vote to confirm Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, Udall said today. Kagan, President Obama’s second nomination to the high court, demonstrated a “wide range of experiences and impressive intellect,” Udall said in a statement released today of Kagan’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I am confident that she is not a rigid ideologue and her approach toward deliberating cases makes her a fine candidate for the Supreme Court,” Udall said."

Guess Who's Opposing Kagan? Endangered Republican Incumbents (Talking Points Memo, 07/08/10)
Links to Judging the Environment's website compilation of Senator Statement: as a "site detailing senators' statements on Kagan."

Comment on Hotline Whip Count: The Kagan Nomination (National Journal, 07/06/10)
Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "Hotline's collection of formal and definitive Senator statements on the Kagan nomination is very helpful. I am compiling a broader set of links to and excepts from Senator Statements on Elena Kagan on my Judging the Environment (one word .dot org) website, including Sen. Franken's "I'm going to vote for Elena Kagan" statement to reporters today, and more than 125 other less definitive but illuminating statements."

SUPREME COURT: After week of hearings, Kagan seen as taking Stevens' place on enviro cases (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 07/02/10)
"Kagan encouragingly emphasized the role of Congress in defining within broad limits who should have standing to enforce the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and other laws," said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney at Defenders of Wildlife, who leads the advocacy group's Judging the Environment project.

Blocked GW Bush Judicial Nominees Could Have Changed Results (Concurring Opinions, 06/23/10)
Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli posted comment on " Which President Appointed Judicial Ideologues?" study: "Only (some of) the worst and most ideological of President George W Bush’s judicial nominees were not confirmed; if they had been, it could well have affected the results. For some specific examples, see my Feb. 29, 2008 ACSBlog Guest Post “Guest Blogger Glenn Sugameli: Bush Judicial Nominees- Torture, Alice in Wonderland, Shoplifting, Ethics and more” and my Judging the Environment [.org] website, which compiles thousands of searchable & sortable links to GW Bush and Obama judicial Nominee and Issue Senator Statements, Editorials & Op-Eds, reports, letters and more."

Secret Holds Continue to Block Non-Controversial Federal Judicial Nominees (Legal Times, 06/22/10)
Posted comment by Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli on "Senate Confirms a Herd of Nominees": "What does not happen can be vital, as in Sherlock Holmes’ dog that did not bark. The most telling thing about the Senate agreement to confirm 60 nominees today is the fact that it did not include any nominees to fill 100 federal appellate and district court vacancies. (US Courts website). What is unprecedented is that many judicial nominees who were unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee long ago are still being blocked by secret holds. For more information, my Judging the Environment website has thousands of links to Senator statements, editorials, and more on Supreme Court and other federal judicial nominations and related issues such as access to courts. "

Secret Holds are Still Blocking Non-Controversial Federal Judicial Nominees (Washington Post, 06/22/10)
Posted Comment by Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli on "Senate confirms more than 60 Obama nominees" post: "Thanks for the timely posting, but the reference to inclusion of "Several federal judges" is somewhat misleading. The Senatus blog has posted the list of confirmed nominees and only three judges for the local court-the Superior Court of the District of Columbia- are included. The US Courts website lists 100 federal appellate and district court vacancies, plus 21 future vacancies. What is unprecedented is that many judicial nominees who were unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee long ago are still being blocked by secret holds. My Judging the Environment website has thousands of links to Senator statements, editorials, and more on Supreme Court and other federal judicial nominations and related issues such as access to courts."

Secret Holds Block Non-Controversial Federal Judicial Nominees (A plain blog about politics, 06/22/10)
Posted comment by Judging the Enviroment's Glenn Sugameli on "Logjam Eased": "Thanks for the timely posting. Unfortunately, however, today’s Senate deal did not, as you report, fill “three vacancies on the DC Circuit.” The Senatus blog list that you link to only includes three judges for the local court--the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. What does not happen can be vital, as in Sherlock Holmes’ dog that did not bark. The most telling thing about the Senate agreement to confirm 60 nominees today is the fact that it did not include any nominees to fill lifetime seats on the U.S Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit or any of the100 federal appellate and district court vacancies. (US Courts website). The three federal district judges that you note were confirmed yesterday hardly made a dent. What is unprecedented is that many judicial nominees who were unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee long ago are still being blocked by secret holds. My Judging the Environment website has thousands of links to Senator statements, editorials, and more on Supreme Court and other federal judicial nominations and related issues such as access to courts."

Secret Holds Still Block Non-Controversial Federal Judicial Nominees (Boston Globe, 06/22/10)
Posted comment by Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli on"Senate confirms more than 60 of Obama's executive nominees"

Understanding Issues in Takings Cases Critical for Federal Circuit Judges (Daily Journal [CA] , 06/08/10)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: ""Seat Opens on Patent Appeals Court" (June 2) presented an incomplete picture by describing the creation of "another opening on the nation's top patent appeals court for President Barack Obama to fill." . . .It is critical that Federal Circuit judges understand the very complex set of issues involved in takings cases. Indeed, the court does not only set federal precedents; state courts across the country heavily rely upon rulings by the "takings court."

Few clues to decipher SCOTUS nominee Kagan's positions on environmental law (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, 05/17/10)
Extensively quotes Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli

Republicans for Goodwin: Ford Cabinet Secretary William Coleman Speaks Out  (Confirm Goodwin Liu blog, 05/13/10)
Jonathan Singer: Add another major name to the list of leading Republicans backing the nomination of Goodwin Liu: William T. Coleman, Jr.. Coleman has been one of the most outstanding attorneys and public servants in post-WWII America, breaking ground as the first African-American law clerk on the Supreme Court, working together with Thurgood Marshall on Brown v. Board of Education, and serving as Transportation Secretary to Gerald Ford. In 1995, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Late last month, Coleman penned a letter (.pdf), available through JudgingTheEnvironment.org, to the Judiciary Committee

Quotes By And About Elena Kagan (Kagan Supreme Court Nominee Website, 05/11/10)
"“She has an in-depth knowledge of the nuts and bolts of how issues work in the real world,..” Glenn Sugameli (Attorney at Defenders of Wildlife)."

Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan Helped Found Harvard Environment Clinic (BNA, 05/11/10)
Daily Environment Report extensively quotes Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli

Elena Kagan started Harvard environmental law program  (USA Today, 05/11/10)
"She has an in-depth knowledge of the nuts and bolts of how issues work in the real world," Glenn Sugameli, an attorney at Defenders of Wildlife and founder of Judging the Environment, which monitors federal courts, tells Grist.

Obama Nominates Solicitor General Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court (Environment News Service, 05/10/10)
Glenn Sugameli, founder and head of the environmental community's Judging the Environment project, said, "We welcome President Obama's Supreme Court nomination of Elena Kagan, whose record shows an essential understanding of the importance of upholding and enforcing laws that protect people, wildlife and the environment." "While she was dean of Harvard Law School, Kagan made environmental law a top priority," said Sugameli. "She helped found the Environmental Law Program, and, in one of her most prominent hires, recruited prominent environmental scholar Jody Freeman to lead the program. Kagan also started an Environmental Law and Policy Clinic where students provide vital assistance on cases and policy." "It is critical that Justice Stevens' successor be fair-minded and experienced and understand why environmental laws were written," Sugameli said.

Supreme Court Pick Seen as 'Thoughtful' About Enviro Law, but Views on Issues Are a Mystery  (New York Times, 05/10/10)
Greenwire article quoting Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli

Judging the Environment [Statement on Elena Kagan nomination] (SCOTUSBlog, 05/10/10)
"The following statement is from Glenn Sugameli, who founded in 2001 and still heads the environmental community’s Judging the Environment project and website on federal judicial nominations and related issues: * * *"

SUPREME COURT: Kagan introduced as nominee  (Greenwire, 05/10/10)
"We look forward to the Senate's deliberations on this important nomination as the court is sharply and closely divided on the fate of basic environmental safeguards and citizens' access to court. Respect for and understanding of environmental laws that protect all Americans are essential," said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney at Defenders of Wildlife who leads the advocacy group's Judging the Environment project. "The next justice will help determine the fate of basic environmental safeguards for decades to come."

More Reaction to Kagan Nomination (Legal Times, 05/10/10)
Glenn Sugameli, staff attorney, Defenders of Wildlife “We welcome President Obama’s Supreme Court nomination of Elena Kagan, whose record shows an essential understanding of the importance of upholding and enforcing laws that protect people, wildlife and the environment. While she was dean of Harvard Law School, Kagan made environmental law a top priority. She helped found the Environmental Law Program, and in one of her most prominent hires, recruited prominent environmental scholar Jody Freeman to lead the program. Kagan also started an Environmental Law & Policy Clinic where students provide vital assistance on cases and policy. It is critical that Justice Stevens’ successor be fair-minded and experienced and understand why environmental laws were written.”

Reactions to the nomination Politicians' and interest groups' statements (SCOTUSBlog, 05/10/10)
Links to Judging the Environment statement on the Elena Kagan nomination and notes "Judging the Environment links to more Senators’ reactions here."

Elena Kagan, climate realist  (Grist, 05/10/10)
"She has an in-depth knowledge of the nuts and bolts of how issues work in the real world," said Glenn Sugameli, an attorney at Defenders of Wildlife and founder of Judging the Environment, which monitors federal courts. "That's important because, if you look at the current court, they're almost all lifetime ‘judicial monastery' types. They're so used to looking at things from a judge's standpoint that they don't really understand them."

Wednesday round-up (SCOTUSBlog, 04/28/10)
"Glenn Sugameli, writing for ACSblog, recalls the perceived unlikelihood of the Monsanto petition being granted and reviews the Court’s recent record in environmental cases."

The Supreme Court’s Activist, Pro-Corporate Opinions and Case Selection  (American Constitution Society Blog, 04/26/10)
Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli Guest Post: "understanding how the activist Court has undermined laws that protect ordinary Americans requires that attention must be paid to one-sided decisions whether or not to review environmental and other cases."

Constitutional Accountability Center Back Liu in Letter to Senate (Confirm Goodwin Liu blog, 04/22/10)
Via JudgingtheEnvironment.org, a letter (.pdf) backing the nomination of Goodwin Liu from the Constitutional Accountability Center:

Earth Day Highlights Importance of Judicial Nominations, Lawmakers and Advocates Say  (American Constitution Society Blog, 04/22/10)
"Federal courts decide the fate of lawsuits that attack safeguards for clean air, clean water, endangered species, and special natural places," Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli recently wrote at ACSblog. "Judges must uphold anti-pollution and conservation laws against unjustifiable claims that their enactment exceeded Congress' Commerce Clause authority, and that they take away non-existent 'property rights' to pollute." "Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens's retirement highlights just how much Americans rely on fair and independent judges to uphold and enforce laws that protect people and our environment," Sugameli concludes. EPA administrator Lisa P. Jackson echoed Sugameli's sentiments today.

Wednesday round-up (SCOTUSBlog, 04/14/10)
At ACSblog, Glenn Sugameli contends that Stevens’s replacement should be a strong proponent of environmental protections. Jonathan Hiskes of Grist asks “How green are Obama’s potential Supreme Court picks?” and evaluates the environmental records of the three leading candidates.

Jesse Choper's Comprehensive Defense of Goodwin Liu  (Confirm Goodwin Liu blog, 04/14/10)
"JudgingtheEnvironment.org, a repository for all things related to judicial nominations, recently posted a letter (.pdf) sent by eminent constitutional scholar Jesse Choper, a colleague of Goodwin Liu's (and a former professor of mine) at Berkeley Law, to the top members of the Senate Judiciary Committee."

What the green movement needs from the next Supreme Court justice  (Grist, 04/14/10)
"Federal-court watcher Glenn Sugameli suggests two ways President Obama's next Supreme Court nominee can help make the court more ecologically intelligent. Nine years ago Sugameli founded Judging the Environment, a clearinghouse for info on how federal judges (who get lifetime appointments) determine environmental policy. He's also a staff attorney at Defenders of Wildlife,"

Environmental Protections Require Fair Independent Replacement for Stevens  (American Constitution Society Blog, 04/13/10)
Guest Blog by Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli

Environmentalists Losing Key Supreme Court Ally  (Environment (change.org), 04/12/10)
Stevens' successor will "help determine the fate of basic environmental safeguards for decades to come," says Glenn Sugameli, founder of the website Judging the Environment. "Four of the remaining Justices unjustifiably attempted to gut the Clean Air Act’s global warming provisions, and to reinterpret the Constitution to selectively prohibit access to court in the 2007 Massachusetts v. EPA case. In that case, Justice Stevens’s vote was decisive."

Roundup: Lawmakers And Activists On Stevens (National Journal, 04/09/10)
Glenn Sugameli, founder of the Judging the Environment project, wrote that Stevens "has a lengthy, very distinguished, and lasting legacy of upholding laws that safeguard our environment. President Obama's selection of a new justice will help determine the fate of basic environmental safeguards for decades to come."

Interest Groups Weigh In on Stevens (Wall Street Journal, 04/09/10)
Glenn Sugameli, staff attorney for the Judging the Environment website on federal judicial nominations: “Retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has a lengthy, very distinguished, and lasting legacy of upholding laws that safeguard our environment. President Obama’s selection of a new justice will help determine the fate of basic environmental safeguards for decades to come.”

SUPREME COURT: Stevens to retire at term's end  (Greenwire, 04/09/10)
Environmental groups consider Stevens a fairly reliable vote in their favor, said Glenn Sugameli, a federal courts expert and staff attorney at Defenders of Wildlife...."Stevens has a lengthy, very distinguished and lasting legacy of upholding laws that safeguard our environment," Sugameli said. "President Obama's selection of a new justice will help determine the fate of basic environmental safeguards for decades to come."

The Leslie Marshall syndicated radio show (Leslie Marshall radio show, 04/07/10)
Interview of Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli from 7:30- 8:00 pm ET by Guest Host Karl Frisch mp3 (second of two guests)

Re: Dick Morris: Obama's Chicago-style tactics (Orange County Register [CA] , 04/05/10)
"I am still awaiting the author and newspaper apologies and corrections for the outrageous claim in Richard “Morris: Obama's Chicago-style tactics” (Mar. 9) that President Obama “offers bribes. Rep. Jim Matheson, endangered species -- a Utah Democrat -- succeeded in getting his brother Scott appointed to a federal judgeship.” Glenn Sugameli posted Comment on Dick Morris column

RE: MICHELLE MALKIN: The Obama way: Bluster, bully, bribe (Register Citizen [CT], 04/05/10)
Glenn Sugameli posted comments: "" I am still awaiting Michelle Malkin’s published apology and correction for her outrageous column.. (Mar. 9) which spread a smear suggesting that Scott Matheson’s announced appellate court nomination was somehow tied to a potential health care vote by his brother, Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah). Before the column was published, its conspiratorial fantasy had been debunked"

SUPREME COURT: Stevens to decide on retirement next month  (Greenwire, 03/16/10)
While environmental groups would lose one of their most reliable supporters, said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney at Defenders of Wildlife, they will also lose a justice with "intangibles" -- including a relatively strong rapport with key swing vote Justice Anthony Kennedy. Kennedy joined the majority in Massachusetts v. EPA, which provided the legal basis for EPA's emerging effort to curb emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. "Any change on the Supreme Court could help decide the fate of environmental laws for decades to come. The court is very closely split, 5-4, on a number of major environmental issues," Sugameli said. "A new nominee will obviously be much younger and will likely be around to decide issues that nobody's really even thought of yet."

Malkin’s claim about nomination erroneous (State Journal-Register [IL], 03/12/10)
Glenn Sugameli (Judging the Environment) published Letter to the Editor: "Paul Cassell, a very conservative former U.S. district Judge appointed by President George W. Bush. ... wrote “Given that the ABA was evaluating Scott in roughly January, one would expect an announcement roughly six weeks later — exactly as happened here. Unfortunately for conspiracy theorists, the facts show that the Scott Matheson nomination has nothing to with the health-care debate.”"

RE: The Long Reach Of Hurricane Katrina (Legal Profession Blog, 03/11/10)
Glenn Sugameli [Judging the Environment] posted Comment on failed 4th Circuit Pres. GW Bush nominee Claude Allen

Re: What A Coincidence  (Daily News Record [VA] , 03/10/10)
Posted Comment by Glenn Sugameli (Judging the Environment): "The White House is not alone in rejecting this absurd allegation. Others who have debunked this fantasy include Utah Republican Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, the right-wing Power Line blog, The Salt Lake Tribune (which "laughed the ... suggestion off the table"), and Paul Cassell, a very conservative former U.S. District Judge appointed by President George W. Bush. . . . Is there any reason your readers should disbelieve all of these solidly conservative sources who know the facts far better than your totally speculative editorial?"

Re: Whip Count (No. 14 in a Series) – One Blue Dog Barks No, Another Stays Silent  (ABC News, 03/10/10)
Posted Comment by Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "ABC News aptly notes that "Matheson has been the subject of much evidence-free speculation by conservative media about alleged -- and unproven -- vote-buying" and that "Significantly, both of Utah’s Republican senators have stated that Scott Matheson’s judgeship has been in the works for a long time and is not part of any quid pro quo." The conservative media conspiratorial fantasy has also been debunked by The Salt Lake Tribune (which “laughed the … suggestion off the table”), the right-wing Power Line blog, and Paul Cassell, a very conservative former U.S. District Judge appointed by President George W. Bush."

Re: Pay-For-Play The Obama Way?  (Daily News Record [VA] , 03/10/10)
"According to “Michelle Malkin: The Obama way: Bluster, bully, bribe” (Mar. 8), "The White House took great offense this week when conservatives suggested President Obama might be trading a judicial appointment for a wavering Democrat's vote on his health care reform plan." Malkin failed to notice that the White House was not alone; this conspiratorial fantasy has been debunked by Utah Republican Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, The Salt Lake Tribune (which “laughed the … suggestion off the table”), the right-wing Power Line blog, and Paul Cassell, a very conservative former U.S. District Judge appointed by President George W. Bush."

Re: Discipline Board Recommends One-Year Suspension for Former White House Aide  (Legal Times, 03/10/10)
Glenn Sugameli: "As reflected in its title, "Discipline Board Recommends One-Year Suspension for Former White House Aide," the BLT's commendable posting omits one key fact. Even more remarkable in this context than Claude Allen's theft by fraud while he served in President George W. Bush's White House, is Bush's previous nomination of Allen to a lifetime seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. To understand how Claude Allen was part of a pattern of failed Bush judicial nominees with severe, objective problems, see the Feb. 29, 2008 ACSBlog, "Guest Blogger Glenn Sugameli: Bush Judicial Nominees- Torture, Alice in Wonderland, Shoplifting, Ethics and more" or my www.judgingtheenvironment.org website."

Malkin wrong in smear campaign against Matheson (St. Louis Globe-Democrat [MO] , 03/09/10)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: Malkin erroneously claims that “for nearly a year,” while this judgeship was vacant, “there was no action.” But, every judicial nominee selection triggers months of FBI and American Bar Association vetting before a public announcement.

Malkin only one to see conspiracy in nomination (Examiner, 03/09/10)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "Michelle Malkin spreads a smear and blames the victims as she details unfounded suggestions that Scott Matheson’s announced appellate court nomination was somehow tied to a potential health care vote by his brother, Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah). Utah Republican Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett both debunked this conspiratorial fantasy. The Salt Lake Tribune "laughed the ... suggestion off the table."... She also erroneously claims that "there was no action" for nearly a year while this judgeship was vacant. But every judicial nominee selection triggers months of FBI and American Bar Association vetting before a public announcement."

RE: Meet the 18 House Dems whose votes matter most on health care  (Examiner, 03/09/10)
Posted Comment by Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "Ironically, Online Opinion Editor David Freddoso apparently did not read my letter printed in the written edition on p. 20 (Mar. 9), before he repeated Michelle Malkin's discredited smear when he wrote: "Jim Matheson, Utah – Just as he began to contemplate his vote, President Obama appointed his brother Scott to a federal judgeship.""

Re: Jay Evensen's perspectives on the news: Health care hardball  (Deseret News [UT] , 03/08/10)
Posted comment by Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "Given the facts discrediting this smear, Jay Evensen's "I don't believe the Scott M. Matheson Jr. appointment was a quid pro quo" conclusion is too weak. Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett debunked this conspiratorial fantasy. The Salt Lake Tribune “laughed the … suggestion off the table.” "

“The Obama Way: Bluster, Bully, Bribe” (Paramus Post [NJ], 03/07/10)
Glenn Sugameli (Judging the Environment) published Letter to the Editor: Michelle Malkin's column "spreads baseless rumors and blames victims of a smear. ...Utah Republican Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett debunked this conspiratorial fantasy and The Salt Lake Tribune “laughed the … suggestion off the table.”"

Update to Webb, Warner urge confirmation of 4th Circuit nominee (Washington Post, 02/27/10)
Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "UPDATE: Incredibly, next Tuesday vote on Judge Keenan's nomination is not an up-and-down vote. Unexplained GOP Senate opposition has forced a scheduled cloture (anti-filibuster) vote to cut off debate, even though the Judiciary Committee approved Judge Keenan by a unanimous voice vote back in October. When Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner urged a vote on the merits this week, they explained that Republican Governor McDonnell specifically requested that Justice Keenan deliver him the oath of office. Continuing across-the-board obstruction of President Obama’s consensus judicial nominees has caused federal court vacancies to exceed 100. Unless one or more Senators publicly explain the delay of Keenan, it will be obvious that this is just the latest example of mindless GOP Senate partisanship."

Courts - SCOTUS denies review of Seymour-based Rose Acre Farms takings judgment (Indiana Law Blog, 02/24/10)
Includes analysis by Defenders of Wildlife's attorney Glenn Sugameli

Supreme Court Denies 3 High-Profile Environmental Cases  (Greenwire, 02/23/10)
The Supreme Court's decision to pass on the case leaves the Federal Circuit's decision as the precedent for future takings cases involving federal agencies. Because that court is the destination for nearly all appeals on federal claims cases, the ruling carries substantial weight, said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney with Defenders of Wildlife. "A decision at that level is normally final right now, absent Supreme Court review," Sugameli said. If the Supreme Court had stepped in and sided with Rose Acre Farms on the takings claim, he added, "you could end up with all levels of government always erring on the side of not protecting public health."

What Have U.S. Senators Said About CU? (Election Law Blog, 02/04/10)
Links to Judging the Environment's compilation of excerpts from and links to Senator Statements on the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision as "A compendium [Link]."

"Judicial Nominations in the First Year of the Obama Administration" Panel, National Press Club (American Constitution Society Blog, 01/28/10)
Statement & Question from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli at pp. 45-46 of Transcript

CU and SOTU (Election Law Blog, 01/27/10)
Rick Hasen: "Judging the Environment" collects CU-related opeds. [LINK]

Latest on Citizens United v. FEC  (American Constitution Society Blog, 01/26/10)
"Judging the Environment is collecting scores of op-eds from across the country here. [LINK]"

COURTS: Senate to vote on long-delayed 11th Circuit nominee (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 01/19/10)
Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney with Defenders of Wildlife, said he has been surprised to see a nominee wait months for confirmation when no one has voiced significant opposition. "It's a very strange process right now, and it may very well determine the fate of environmental laws for decades to come," Sugameli said.

Letters to the Editor: Not All Senators Display Hypocrisy (Richmond Times-Dispatch [VA], 12/02/09)
Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli- published letter: Your editorials, "Flipping Out" and "Do Unto," unjustly included blanket condemnation of "the Senate's Republicans and Democrats" for hypocritically flip-flopping on filibusters of judicial nominees, and missed the ultimate irony displayed by some senators. Ten Republican senators from across the political spectrum consistently voted to end a filibuster against Judge David Hamilton's nomination to a federal appeals court. It is also not hypocritical for Democrats who supported specific filibusters to oppose one against Hamilton, who was selected with the strong approval of his home-state senators, including Richard Lugar, the senior Republican in the Senate. "Do Unto" recognizes that in 2005, "The GOP . . . asserted that filibusters of nominations implicitly violated the Constitution." For example, Sen. James Inhofe declared that such filibusters are "contrary to our oath to support and defend the Constitution." The missing irony is the latest explanation by Inhofe and other senators: They opposed Hamilton because they feared he might change the Constitution, but by filibustering him these senators violated what they insisted the Constitution requires.

Despite hypocrisy, filibuster ended (Roanoke Times [VA], 11/24/09)
Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli published Letter to the Editor: "In the ultimate hypocrisy, 29 senators who claimed not to trust a judicial nominee to interpret the Constitution tried to block him by violating what they insisted the Constitution requires. However, 10 Republican senators from across the country and the political spectrum joined a successful vote to end the filibuster of President Obama's first appellate court nominee, David Hamilton."

This Week in Judicial Nominations  (American Constitution Society Blog, 11/16/09)
Flurry of news stories- (H/T: Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.)

COURTS: Confirmation shifts 4th Circuit toward Democrats' appointees  (Greenwire, 11/10/09)
Mountaintop removal case shows need to fill 4th Circuit vacancies: "Only about half of the court voted in this case," said Glenn Sugameli, a staff attorney with Defenders of Wildlife. "The point of an en banc rehearing is to allow the full court to weigh in on a matter, and the fact that you have this many vacancies and this many recusals on such a significant case shows how the process isn't working." Wilkinson's minority opinion suggests the potential for similar cases to have a different outcome with new additions to the court, Sugameli said. "All you need is to get to seven. Three new judges could make a difference, let alone five," he said.

Mounting Challenges to Judicial Nominations  (American Constitution Society Blog, 11/02/09)
"Hat Tip" credit: "(H/T: Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.)"

GOP should allow votes (Mobile Press-Register [AL], 10/29/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "The message of the Press-Register's Oct. 25 editorial "Benjamin deserves Senate vote" was bolstered by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who said: "We are facing a major pandemic; we have a well-qualified candidate for surgeon general; she's been through the committee process. We just need a vote in the Senate." Ranking U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee member Jeff Sessions and Sen. Richard Shelby, both of Alabama, could also tell their Republican colleagues to allow votes on the unprecedented number of truly noncontroversial judicial nominations that are stalled. These include U.S. District Judge Beverly Martin's nomination to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Alabama. Despite support from her Georgia home-state Republican senators and a Sept. 10 unanimous Judiciary Committee voice vote, Martin remains in limbo. In contrast, the 2007-08 Democratic Senate confirmed 23 Bush judges within a week of committee approval."

Judicial Nominee Under Attack (Daily Journal [CA] , 10/28/09)
Quotes Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli on blocked Obama judicial nominees "It seems to me that they're being used as pawns in a bigger game,"

Posted Comment on Wall Street Journal Editorial (Wall Street Journal, 10/15/09)
"Leahy's Bench Press: Senate Democrats try to pack the federal courts," (Review & Outlook, Oct. 12) misstates and omits key facts. As of Oct. 12, there were 19 announced judicial nominations, not 16 (there are 20 now), and they included a Second Circuit nominee, Judge Denny Chin. It is true that “Congress hasn't passed major legislation to address the logjam on the federal bench since 1990,” but the editorial omits the context. Then-Senate Judiciary Chairman Biden did not delay the effective date of the bill, and President George H.W. Bush thanked Biden for giving him 85 new judgeships to fill. The editorial cites Utah Republican Orrin Hatch’s cosponsorship of the 2008 version of the current Federal Judgeship Act, but ignores his reasons: the Senate should create new judgeships “without political gambles or speculation about the outcome of a Presidential election . . . based on the judicial conference’s assessment of their needs, not on backroom political deals." Criticizing Senator Patrick Leahy’s “plan” ignores the fact that his 2008 and 2009 bills both implement what the Free Congress Foundation calls “the objective and unfortunately necessary, recommendation for more Federal judgeships issued by the Judicial Conference.” The editorial admits that “the need for new judges” is “urgent,” and that new judgeships “would be good for efficient justice.” Contrary to the Biden and Leahy examples, however, the editorial would delay and hence deny justice until after November 2012. -Glenn Sugameli,Staff Attorney, Judging the Environment

Court Majority Rejected Justice O'Connor's 'Takings' Analysis in Eastern Enterprises (Daily Journal [CA] , 10/12/09)
Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli's published Letter to the Editor: Op-Ed "is fatally flawed by reliance on property rights 'takings' analysis in a non-existent 'majority opinion, written by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor . . . . Both O'Connor's analysis and finding of a taking were rejected by a majority of the Court: the four Justices who disagreed with the result in the case and Justice Kennedy, who was the only Justice to find a due process violation. Since then, courts have ruled against Eastern Enterprises takings/ due process challenges to a wide range of laws."

LETTER TO EDITOR: Unjust delay of justice (Washington Times, 10/10/09)
Defenders of Wildlife's Glenn Sugameli published letter: "Your editorial, "Democrats try to pack the courts" (Opinion, Monday), ignores and rewrites history. The Federal Judgeship Act of 2009 (S. 1653) is based upon nonpartisan recommendations by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the federal courts' policymaking body. Last year, prominent Republican senators co-sponsored a very similar bill, and the Judiciary Committee's approval included the votes of two-thirds of the committee's Republicans, including Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, and Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona. In 1990, when President George H.W. Bush signed the last comprehensive judges bill, he thanked then-Senate Judiciary chairman Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., Delaware Democrat, for giving him 85 new judgeships to fill. In contrast, your editorial plays politics. By urging that "new seats don't open up until after the next presidential election," it ensures that justice delayed will be justice denied in overburdened courts."

SUPREME COURT: 3 enviro, energy cases on docket as fall term begins  (Greenwire, 10/05/09)
In depth article extensively quotes Defenders of Wildlife's Glenn Sugameli.

An Inconclusive Record: How Sotomayor will act on Supreme Court cases affecting the chemical industry can’t be gleaned from her prior rulings (Chemical & Engineering News, 09/07/09)
"“Sotomayor brings to the bench the most federal judicial experience in 100 years,” says Glenn Sugameli, senior policy counsel at Earthjustice, an environmental law firm in Oakland, Calif. “We anticipate that Sotomayor will bring to the court a fundamental perspective of fairness, careful attention to and understanding of environmental and related statutes, and thoughtful review of complex legal issues.”"

SUPREME COURT: Senate confirms Sotomayor, 68-31  (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 08/06/09)
Sotomayor has received near-unanimous support from national, regional and local environmental groups .... "Environmental cases have gained significant importance in the Supreme Court in the last few years," said Earthjustice President Trip Van Noppen in a statement released after the vote. "During her confirmation hearings, Senators routinely questioned Judge Sotomayor on her perspective on the Clean Water Act and other environmental laws. It is obvious that environmental issues are receiving much more play and will continue to be major Supreme Court issues in the years to come. It is clear that smart and fair judges are essential to safeguarding our nation's environment and the public health."

Sen. Leahy Press Release: Leahy, Reid Stand With Civil Rights Leaders To Discuss Sotomayor Nomination (, 07/29/09)
“The Supreme Court's recent environmental decisions have been deeply and closely divided. Judge Sotomayor's record indicates that she will bring to the Court an understanding of the importance and purpose of environmental safeguards, and will uphold, interpret and apply the laws as Congress intended.” - Glenn Sugameli, Senior Judicial Counsel, Earthjustice

The Supreme Court and the Environment: Who Did They Really Help? (Becker's Environmental Law Update, 07/27/09)
Chuck Becker: "Glenn Sugameli, an attorney with the environmental group Earth Justice, went so far as to say that he believes that the Court put on “pro-business blinders.”"

Sotomayor Hearings Repeatedly Touched on Enviro Issues  (New York Times, 07/17/09)
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor addressed major issues of concern to the environmental community during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings that ended yesterday, shedding some light on how she would approach cases concerning regulatory takings, the Constitution's Commerce Clause, as well as her views on upholding congressional action regarding protective measures such as the Clean Water Act. "Environmental issues received more play than some may have thought they would during the week," said Glenn Sugameli, senior counsel for Earthjustice.

Sotomayor Defends Opposition to Cost-Benefit Analysis in Fish Kill Case (OMB Watch, 07/16/09)
More than 60 environmental groups signed a letter to the Senate supporting Sotomayor. They said her decision in the fish kill case “reflects well-researched, thorough, and thoughtful legal analysis that probes the statute, its context, legislative history, and judicial precedent to discern and remain true to congressional intent.”

SUPREME COURT: Specter questions Sotomayor on power-plant case  (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 07/16/09)
Earthjustice senior counsel Glenn Sugameli suggested Specter intended to encourage Sotomayor to stand behind her Clean Water Act interpretation "in cases where she is not bound by precedent." "She implicitly said that the result she would reach would depend on the language of whatever specific Clean Water Act or other statutory provision was involved," Sugameli said.

SUPREME COURT: Sotomayor questioned about upholding environmental protections (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 07/15/09)
"Sotomayor's emphasis on paying particular attention to congressional findings was reassuring, as was her stress on deference to Congress in this context and in responding to Senator Cardin's concerns with Supreme Court decisions that he recognized have undermined the Clean Water Act," said Glenn Sugameli, senior counsel for Earthjustice.

Sotomayor's Record on Enviro Issues Faces Scrutiny as Hearings Begin  (New York Times, 07/13/09)
As the Supreme Court has taken an increasing interest in environmental-themed cases, advocacy and legal interest groups have come to view the nomination with new significance, said Glenn Sugameli, senior counsel for Earthjustice."

Enviros back Sotomayor for Supreme Court  (Grist, 07/12/09)
"More than 60 environmental and Native American groups—including the Sierra Club, Earthjustice, Greenpeace USA, the League of Conservation Voters, and the Center for Biological Diversity—have sent a letter [PDF] to leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee offering unqualified support for her nomination. ... 'As recent, closely divided decisions demonstrate, the Supreme Court is playing a crucial role in environmental protections,' says Glenn Sugameli, senior policy counsel at Earthjustice."

Get Behind Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor—60 Green Groups Already Have Yes, she's a strong, Hispanic woman—and she's green, too. (planet green, 07/10/09)
"60 of the nation's top environmental and conservation groups, including EarthJustice, the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and the National Wildlife Federation, have drafted a letter voicing their support for Sotomayor.... The groups have written their endorsement because they've surveyed her judicial record and found that she's fair, measured, and thorough in her decisions."

Environmental Groups Support Sotomayor Nomination (SustainableBusiness.com, 07/10/09)
"Sixty environmental groups sent a letter Thursday to the Senate Judiciary Committee supporting the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor...."

60 Environmental Groups Support Sotomayor for Supreme Court  (Environment News Service, 07/09/09)
"Our support for President Obama's nomination of Judge Sotomayor continues," said Trip Van Noppen, president of the nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice. "We are pleased that so many environmental groups agree." ... The letter was signed by some of the largest groups in the United States, including the League of Conservation Voters, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace USA, the National Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, the National Wildlife Federation and The Wilderness Society. In total, they represent millions of members. ...

SUPREME COURT: Souter departs with solid environmental legacy (Greenwire, 06/29/09)
Article extensively quotes Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli

Factcheck on NY Post column "Green Justice: Sotomayor's Enviro-Activism" (New York Post, 06/26/09)
Comment by Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli

Environmental Issues Lose in Supreme Court: Mining Decision is Fifth to Disappoint Activists This Term  (Daily Journal [CA] , 06/25/09)
"Addressing the mining case and others, Glenn Sugameli, an attorney with the environmental group Earthjustice, criticized the court for donning 'pro-business blinders' at the expense of other interests. Another example he cited was the 2nd Circuit case, in which the court reversed Judge - and likely future Supreme Court Justice - Sonia Sotomayor, who wrote the lower court opinion in favor of environmental groups. Entergy v. Riverkeeper, DJDAR 4885. ...With the Bush administration out of office, environmentalists are now hoping that the Supreme Court will, as Earthjustice's Sugameli put it, 'apply the same principles' of deference to the Obama administration if the EPA enacts new rules that are more pro-environment."

What They're Saying About Judge Sotomayor  (Imperial Valley News, 06/19/09)
Reprints White House Statement quoting Glenn Sugameli

ET White House Touts Support for Sotomayor (Wall Street Journal, 06/19/09)
Includes White House Press Release paragraph quoting Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli

White House Press Release: What They're Saying About Judge Sotomayor  (The White House, 06/19/09)
Earthjustice Said Sotomayor Possessed "Some Of The Strongest Qualifications Of Any Supreme Court Nominee In Many Years," Praised "Invaluable Perspectives" In Environmental Law. "The following statement is from Glenn Sugameli, senior legislative counsel and head of Earthjustice’s judicial nominations project since 2001: "Earthjustice welcomes President Obama’s Supreme Court nomination of Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who has some of the strongest qualifications of any Supreme Court nominee in many years, including the most federal judicial experience in 100 years. Judge Sotomayor is well qualified in light of her personal, academic, legal, and judicial experience . Her knowledge, understanding and service as a federal trial and appellate court judge provide invaluable perspectives for deciding environmental protection and related issues, as reflected in her 80-page Riverkeeper v. EPA opinion." [Earthjustice Press Release, 5/26/09]

White House Release on Sotomayor Support (TIME magazine, 06/19/09)
Mark Halperin's The Page includes White House Press release quoting Glenn Sugameli

Nominee deemed impartial: Supreme Court hopeful Sotomayor ruled against EPA in water case (Capital Press, 06/11/09)
"Earthjustice has an overall positive impression of Sotomayor, even though she has not always ruled in favor of environmental issues, [Glenn] Sugameli said."

Letter: Sotomayor 'well-qualified' to sit on Supreme Court (TCPalm.com, 06/05/09)
Published letter from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli on Judge Sotomayor's qualifications for the Supreme Court.

Environment, Energy, and the U.S. Supreme Court: Judge Sonia Sotomayor Nominated for Membership on High Court  (Environment in the 21st Century: Environment21 , 05/30/09)
Prof. Don C. Smith quotes Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli

Nominee Looks Moderate on Environment (Daily Journal [CA] , 05/29/09)
"For environmentalists, the main source of their approval is the Riverkeeper opinion. It's 'a good indication of her careful attention and understanding of the environmental statutes,' said Glenn Sugameli, the senior judicial counsel at Earthjustice"

In climate case, long delay by Sotomayor-led panel  (National Law Journal, 05/28/09)
"Glenn Sugameli, an Earthjustice attorney in charge of judicial nominations, said Sotomayor has sided with and against environmentalists as an appellate judge. "We just want a judge who is fair." "

Judge Sonia Sotomayor: an environmental pragmatist (Examiner, 05/27/09)
Jean Williams, Seattle Environmental Policy Examiner quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli. Williams concludes: "The choice of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for a place at the U.S. Supreme Court table, is a bold, forwarding thinking choice, to help form a more inclusive, sensible, open-minded, balanced, and diversified American legacy."

Enviro groups like what they see in Obama's justice pick (Greenwire, 05/27/09)
Article on Sotomayor nomination extensively quotes Glenn Sugameli, senior legislative counsel and head of Earthjustice's judicial nominations project.

Obama Leaves Door Open for Talks with North Korea What is Sotomayor's Approach on Environment?  (CNN, 05/27/09)
"Now, environmentalists, they're certainly encouraged. That's what we're hearing from the news just yesterday and this morning. The group Earthjustice calls Sotomayor well-qualified, says the Riverkeeper case that I just discussed suggests she brings what they're calling an invaluable perspective to environmental issues."

Obama Supreme Court pick has small but solid record on environmental rulings (Grist, 05/26/09)
Extensively quotes Earthjustice President Trip Van Noppen

Justice Sotomayor?  (Deseret News [UT] , 05/26/09)
Jay Evensen's perspectives on the news quotes Earthjustice on Sotomayor nomination.

Letter: Sowell showed little 'empathy'  (Appeal-Democrat [CA], 05/16/09)
Published letter from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli rebutting Thomas Sowell column: "Judges are not computers; they must understand how the U.S. Constitution and laws were written to alleviate real problems people face in many different circumstances."

Letter: Sowell column distorts meaning of empathy (Lima News [OH] , 05/12/09)
Published letter from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "The headline of Thomas Sowell's May 5 column, " ‘Empathy' versus law," is a false dichotomy that befits a column that bizarrely distorts the meaning of empathy and then obscenely compares President Barack Obama's "rhetoric" with "the law that gave Hitler dictatorial power.""

Glenn Sugameli's published comment on Editorial (Washington Times, 05/08/09)
"The Washington Times editorial board would not have to retract anti-President Obama editorials, as it did on May 6, if it had the empathy to consider and understand opposing viewpoints. For example, the "Editorial: Obama's Empath" (May 8) is absurd, for reasons I explained in my May 7 "Don't rule out empathy" Letter to the Editor that the Washington Times published (but apparently did not read). As I wrote "Respect for the law requires judicial empathy - the ability to see the world from other people's points of view.... There is a reason why judges are people, not computers." In light of the editorial's invocation of Star Trek, please note that even in Gene Rodenberry's utopian future, court martial and other legal cases are argued and decided by people, not machines."

Letter: Rule of law needs judicial empathy  (Chattanooga Times Free Press [TN] , 05/07/09)
Published Letter from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "“‘Empathy’ or the Constitution ?” (editorial, May 5) mistakenly condemns any judge who dares to “empathize with others … those personal feelings should be carefully set aside in court in favor of complete impartiality and justice.” There is a reason why judges are people, not computers. They must understand how the Constitution and laws were written to alleviate real problems faced by people in many different circumstances. . . ."

LETTER TO EDITOR: Don't rule out empathy (Washington Times, 05/07/09)
"Respect for the law requires judicial empathy - the ability to see the world from other people's points of view. Empathy is needed to avoid bias, which can result from overreliance on a justice's own limited - and typically highly privileged and insulated - experience and perspective."

Obama Begins Shaping Federal Judiciary (Law360, 05/06/09)
Extensively quotes Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.

SUPREME COURT: Enviro issues at stake in looming nomination fight  (Greenwire, 05/01/09)
Extensively quotes Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.

Seeking Souter's Replacement (Inside EPA, 05/01/09)
Quotes Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli in detail.

So Long, Farewell: Justice Souter has been a dependable green vote  (Grist, 05/01/09)
Grist's senior editor Lisa Hymas quotes in full Earthjustice "statement about Souter’s retirement from Glenn Sugameli, their senior legislative counsel:"

On Examination, Will's Rationales Melt Away (Albuquerque Journal [NM], 04/28/09)
Published letter from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli on George Will's errors on the Constitution, takings and nondelegation.

Rewriting Constitution  (Lewiston Morning Tribune [ID], 04/26/09)
Glenn Sugameli (Judging the Environment) Letter: "The Constitution's Takings Clause states "nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." George Will urges the Supreme Court to approve a request by wealthy casinos to review an "Illinois case and reject the preposterous idea that money is not property within" this clause's scope. ("Illinois robs riverboat casinos to play the ponies, Tribune, April 12). But as conservative columnist Matthew J. Frank explains, Will is wrong (National Review Online "Taking Stock of the Takings Clause"): " '(M)oney is not property' where the takings clause is concerned (because) (t)he clause makes no sense otherwise." If a court found that a tax was for a "public use" so "the taking was valid," there must be compensation, meaning "the tax money, to the last penny, must be returned." George Will does not like this Illinois levy because it benefits horse racing. He cannot, however, rewrite the Constitution to create takings claims against a levy that the casinos can seek to change though the legislature."

George Will misleading (Anniston Star [AL] , 04/24/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli on two George Will columns that misread the Constitution.

Will off mark (Scranton Times-Tribune [PA], 04/21/09)
Published letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli rebutting columnist's constitutional property rights/ takings argument.

George Will got it wrong on stimulus bill (Daily Advertiser [Lafayette, LA], 04/21/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli rebutting columnist's misreading of the Constitution.

Delegation of power kept in check (Columbian [WA], 04/21/09)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "Ken Peterson misses the point in his April 10 letter, "Validate use of congressional power." Peterson correctly rejects, "The idea that Congress and the president can do whatever they want." However, he mistakenly praises George Will's March 29 column, "Congressional action violates Constitution," which makes a different, incorrect assertion. Will misleadingly promotes a discredited libertarian argument that the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 is unconstitutional. Will selectively quotes a Jeffrey Rosen column, but ignores Rosen's conclusions that "it's not unconstitutional" and "libertarian arguments are doomed - and the libertarians know it." Will erroneously claims, "Since the New Deal era, (a) few laws have been invalidated on the grounds that they improperly delegated legislative powers." In fact, the only time federal laws were ever invalidated on this ground was in 1935 by the political, anti-New Deal Supreme Court. "

George Will wrong on constitution's 'Takings clause'  (Republican-American [CT] , 04/19/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.

George Will was mistaken (Vindicator [Youngstown, OH], 04/19/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli regarding column on Constitution's Takings Clause.

Flawed argument (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [PA], 04/15/09)
Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli on misleading syndicated column promoting the discredited "nondelegation doctrine."

Columnist misleads on bailout constitutionality (Island Packet [SC], 04/10/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.

Columnist relied on a discredited argument (Missoulian [MT], 04/09/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.

Democrats Have Better Filibuster Record (Richmond Times-Dispatch [VA], 04/09/09)
"CORRESPONDENT OF THE DAY" Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "The recent editorial, "Busting Loose," unjustifiably equates changes of position by Senate Republicans and Democrats on filibusters of judicial nominees, claiming that both have "executed a U-turn on filibusters." GOP senators recently threatened to filibuster President Barack Obama's judicial nominees. These include many senators who previously claimed that such filibusters are always improper and unconstitutional. For example, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) repeatedly pledged in 2005 that "I would never filibuster any president's judicial nominee, period. I might vote against them, but I will always see they come to a vote." In contrast, Senate Democrats have not altered their position on the ability to filibuster, including their opposition to the nuclear option to ban judicial nominee filibusters. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recently explained that he hoped Republicans would not filibuster Obama's judicial nominees, but he added that it was their prerogative to do so. Moreover, it was Republican nuclear option supporters who tried to rewrite the Constitution, which gives the Senate the power to make its own rules. The nonpartisan Senate parliamentarian, conservative former Republican senators, more than 600 editorial boards, and other objective thinkers agreed: The fact that the Constitution does not require filibusters does not mean they are forbidden."

George Will misleading; stimulus act is constitutional  (Press of Atlantic City [NJ] , 04/06/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.

CQ Weekly: Political Class: Inside the Lexicon of Washington (Congressional Quarterly, 04/06/09)
Seth Stern, CQ Staff: "Glenn Sugameli, senior judicial counsel for the Earthjustice environmental organization, says empathy is simply putting yourself in other people's shoes and seeing facts from their perspective. "The idea that that's in conflict with what judges do shows a misunderstanding of empathy and what judges do.""

Columnist wrong (Corpus Christi Caller-Times [TX], 04/04/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.

George Will Misleadingly Promotes a Libertarian Argument (Lewiston Morning Tribune [ID], 04/04/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.

Empathy is crucial for effective judges (Columbia Daily Tribune [MO] , 04/03/09)
Published Open Column by Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli on how "interpreting ambiguous laws and the Constitution requires understanding their purpose and history."

George Will's misleading Op-Ed: "Emergency stabilization legislation unconstitutional" (Clarion-Ledger [MS] , 04/01/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.

Will's flawed argument (Deseret News [UT] , 04/01/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli on fatally flawed "nondelegation doctrine."

Will's arguments against federal stimulus are hollow  (Daily Breeze [CA], 03/31/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.

Invalidating federal laws  (Press Telegram [CA], 03/31/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli v. libertarian constitutional argument.

Empathy essential to justice (Daily News Tribune [MA], 03/31/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.

Empathy essential to justice (Daily News Tribune [MA], 03/29/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli "makes several important points about President Obama's nomination of David Hamilton for an open U.S. Court of Appeals seat."

Empathy essential to justice (MetroWest Daily News [MA], 03/29/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli expanding on column's rebuttal of right wing charges about judicial nominees.

Empathy essential to justice (Milford Daily News [MA], 03/29/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli.

Confirmation battles-- Re “Obama to influence our courts”  (Los Angeles Times, 03/19/09)
Published letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "Following the law often requires judicial empathy -- being able to see the world from other people's points of view."

Wishful Thinking (Roll Call, 03/09/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli responding to a letter about his Feb. 9 Guest Observer column: "GOP Payback on Court Nominees Is Hard to Justify."

GOP Nominees Need Full Support (Roll Call, 02/23/09)
Letter from Judicial Confirmation Network counsel Wendy E. Long about Glenn Sugameli's Feb. 9th Guest Observer column (see Glenn's March 9 published letter in response to Long).

How should Obama choose his court appointees? (Christian Science Monitor, 02/23/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli responding to a editorial and explaining how "Interpreting the Constitution, treaties, and statutes often requires being able to see the world from other people's points of view. "

Court minority misinterprets laws (Roanoke Times [VA], 02/15/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli commenting on recent editorial.

Glenn Sugameli: Next U.S. Supreme Court pick critical (Capital Times (WI), 02/14/09)
Published letter to the editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli responding to Op-Ed and editorial column.

Re: Mark Hamby’s Guest Column “Fair Pay Act”  (Journal Record [OK], 02/13/09)
Response by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli to a Guest Column

Obstructionist court (Gainesville Sun [FL], 02/09/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli on threats to access to court.

Guest Observer: GOP Payback on Court Nominees Is Hard to Justify (Roll Call, 02/09/09)
Op-Ed by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli detailing objective problems that justified failure to confirm all of Bush’s nominees. "Any fair evaluation of the Senate’s review of Bush’s judicial nominations can only argue for confirmation of qualified" Obama nominees.

Congress can overturn court’s misinterpretation (News Journal (DE), 02/09/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on threats to court access from Supreme Court misinterpretation of statutes and the Constitution.

Supreme Court minority would deny rights (Post-Standard [NY] , 02/04/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on threatened access to court.

Reversing conservative judicial activism (Intelligencer Journal [PA] , 02/03/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on threatened access to court.

EarthJustice Legal Defense Fund (Capital Research Center, 02/01/09)
"“Judging the Environment” (http://www. judgingtheenvironment.org/) provides a handy searchable database of arguments green groups can use to oppose a Bush appointee. If you type in the name of an appointee and click on a legal or environmental issue (e.g. Clean Air or The Commerce Clause) you will be directed to statements, resolutions, and “letters of concern” issued by dozens of environmental groups giving reasons why the appointee should be rejected. Glenn Sugameli, a senior legislative counsel ... heads up the project, which keeps tabs on “extreme nominees.”"

Keep an eye on certain Supreme Court judges (Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 01/31/09)
Published Letter to the Editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

Not so fine (Oakland Tribune [CA] , 01/26/09)
Published letter to the editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli responding to an editorial and discussing Alito and Roberts, access to courts, clean air and water, and worker rights.

Bush Fourth Circuit nominees (Blue Commonwealth [VA], 01/26/09)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on President George W. Bush's disastrous choices for lifetime seats on the Fourth Circuit.

The Federal Circuit (National Law Journal, 01/26/09)
Published letter to the editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Federal Circuit nominations, "takings" claims and federal Indian law.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY ROBERTS, ALITO NOT SO EXEMPLARY  (Republican-American [CT] , 01/23/09)
Published letter to the Editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli responding to an editorial and discussing Ledbetter access to courts decision.

Property Rights Groups Eye ESA Fight In High Court (Law360, 01/23/09)
Article extensively quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on previous and future Commerce Clause challenges to ESA protections.

RE: “Specter Puts on a Show for Conservatives (New York Observer, 01/16/09)
Post from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli correcting and responding to an article: "Senator Specter voted for more than 325 of President Bush’s judicial nominees, and led efforts to confirm the most controversial ones who were blocked. As Senator Specter continues to apply the same standards, President Obama should expect support for all of his judicial nominees."

A better comparison (Oklahoman, 01/14/09)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: ""Judging judges: Democrats help give Bush mixed legacy" (Our Views, Jan. 6) cites misleading comparisons by Ed Whelan of the Ethics and Public Policy Center of the raw numbers of Senate-confirmed lifetime district and appeals court judges nominated by Presidents Bush and Clinton. Vacancies fluctuate and the Senate can't confirm those who were never nominated. Therefore, it's more accurate to compare confirmation rates. In eight years, the Senate confirmed 76 percent of Clinton nominees (372 of 488), a lower percentage than either the 86 percent for Bush (324 of 376) or the 88 percent for President Reagan (375 of 423)...."

GOP responsible for many court vacancies (Examiner, 01/08/09)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "The Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals continues to baffle Quin Hillyer. My July 22nd letter explained how a Hillyer column removed West Virginia from the Circuit. Now, he mistakenly claims that Peter Keisler was nominated to that court. Hillyer omits why President Bush re-nominated President Clinton judges who were blocked by a GOP Senate. Roger Gregory was already a Fourth Circuit judge (via a recess appointment). Reappointing Gregory, this largely Southern Circuit’s first African-American judge, avoided reverting to the all-white court that Sen. Jesse Helms had preserved by blocking Gregory and other Clinton African American nominees. Bush repeatedly refused to revive Helene White’s Sixth Circuit nomination. He only agreed to confirm judges whom home-state Senators had blocked to highlight how a GOP Senate had denied White a hearing for many years. Hillyer also ignores how D.C. Circuit vacancies were created because a GOP Senate refused to vote on Clinton nominees Allen Snyder and Elena Kagan (Barack Obama’s choice for Solicitor General)."

New Year, New Judges (Religious Action Center blog, 01/02/09)
Links to Dec. 2008 ACSBlog by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli as one of the four "most interesting articles that I have seen" that offer "President-elect Obama guidance and counsel on how to approach judicial nominations and how best to fill the 44 vacancies on the federal courts that will exist when he takes office. "

Comment on Unilateral Disarmament in the Judicial Appointments Arm Race  (Balkinization, 12/30/08)
Commenter links to Feb. and Dec. 2008 ACSBlog essays by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli., "a legal advocate for the environment. Both essays are condensed and easy to read. They provide a glimpse from one important perspective of the stakes."

Look Beyond Constitutional Interpretation When Picking Judges (American Constitution Society Blog, 12/22/08)
Commentary by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli: "The records of potential and pending judicial nominees on constitutional interpretation are a vital consideration, but far from the only one. Lifetime judges must also be competent, fair and independent, and must fairly interpret and apply the statutes, treaties, and judge-made 'common law' that are at issue in the vast majority of cases."

Jury Is Still Out on Obama Judges (Roll Call, 12/01/08)
Article quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on future of judicial nominations.

GOP environmental record a challenge for McCain (San Francisco Chronicle [CA], 10/17/08)
Alito and Roberts "have generally opposed the regulation of business, said Glenn Sugameli, senior judicial counsel at Earthjustice."

Poor picks for judges, poor view of Senate role (The Hill, 10/15/08)
Published Letter to the Editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli: Bush has pressured the Senate to confirm judges who would further political agendas by rewriting our Constitution and laws. Roberts and Alito fell one vote short of gutting basic water and air pollution laws.

Appointing judges (Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/06/08)
Letter to the Editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Senate's constitutional advice and consent role and how "President Bush ignited unnecessary confirmation firefights and artificially created judicial vacancies."

Judicial Jousting (Inside EPA, 10/06/08)
Quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli: the Senate confirmed more than 300 Bush judges and President Bush created artificial vacancies by insisting "on nominees who would unfairly favor big corporations over laws that protect people and the environment.”

Justice prevails (Boston Herald, 09/15/08)
Letter from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli: "after a GOP Senate pocket filibustered more than 60 of President Clinton’s nominees, the Senate confirmed 316 Bush-nominated judges and cut vacancies by more than half. President Bush created the remaining artificial vacancies by submitting nominations too late to be processed and by insisting on nominees with political agendas that unfairly favor big corporations."

Democrats actually reduced number of judicial vacancies (Examiner, 07/22/08)
Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor: "Quin Hillyer’s column includes a major scoop: West Virginia left the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, as he claims it includes only four states: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. If anyone can figure out when or how this occurred, please let me — and the court — know. Or perhaps Mr. Hillyer is mired in an antebellum mind-set and never accepted the fact that West Virginia is no longer part of Virginia. Mr. Hillyer also omits the context. The Senate has confirmed over 300 Bush judges, and the vacancy rate is 4.7 percent. As Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., explained: “Since the years in which Republicans pocket filibustered more than 60 of President [Bill] Clinton’s moderate and qualified judicial nominees, and judicial vacancies topped 100, we have cut judicial vacancies by more than half and reduced Circuit Court vacancies by almost three-fourths, to nine throughout the entire country from a high point of 32.”"

Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli's response to Quin Hillyer column (Examiner, 07/18/08)
"The Senate has confirmed over 300 Bush judges and the vacancy rate is 4.7%"

Laura Donovan-- problems (Townhall.com, 07/15/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on problems with column, including omission of key facts- "the Senate in the last three presidential election years - 1996, 2000, and 2004 - confirmed no court of appeals nominees after July; and the most relevant comparison, as Sen. Leahy explained 'Since the years in which Republicans pocket filibustered more than 60 of President Clinton’s moderate and qualified judicial nominees and judicial vacancies topped 100, we have cut judicial vacancies by more than half and we reduced circuit court vacancies by almost three-fourths, to 9 throughout the entire country from a high point of 32.'”

Response to “Presidential Pick Plagiarised?” (Legal Research Plus, 07/07/08)
Glenn Sugameli: "Sen. Specter later stated that O’Neill, as his chief counsel, knew about the insertion of language in the Patriot Act extension that allowed President Bush to replace U.S. attorneys without Senate approval, and that O’Neill did not notify Specter, who opposed the language when he learned about it."

Comment on "Judicial Nominee Could Face Trouble Over Copying Issue" (ABA Journal, 07/07/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli: "According to several reports, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), as part of the deal to fend off right-wing opposition to his Judiciary chairmanship, was forced to hire Michael O’Neill as Senate Judiciary Committee chief counsel."

Supreme Court Session Had Few Construction Cases (Engineering News-Record, 07/02/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli "points to the Exxon Valdez case, as representing the court¹s more conservative view. 'I think it is a reflection of a very disturbing trend in four to five of the justices where... they sometimes put on blinders to the impacts of their decisions on the interests that Congress intended to protect and instead look at it from the viewpoint of the regulated party, which Congress intended to control,' Environmental groups are 'very concerned that we really are one vote away from a lot of really very bad decisions'"

Letter to the Editor: Private property rights (Washington Times, 06/27/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli: "As a lawyer who helped defend against the takings claims in the case James L. Huffman describes in "Property rights and wrongs" (Commentary, Thursday), I was struck by how misleading and unfair Mr. Huffman's column is."

Comment on Hill Veteran Named to District Court (Legal Times, 06/21/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli: "A Hill aide's insertion of a major, explosive provision into legislation without notifying his boss or any other Senator raises, at the very least, extremely serious questions about Michael O'Neill's judgment."

Baltimore Examiner failure to correct letter on Rod Rosenstein (Baltimore Examiner, 06/20/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli "The Examiner has STILL not made corrections to my published letter... First, I wrote 'yet President Bush won't discuss other nominees opposed by home-state Senators.' Second, Second, my submitted letter referred to 'Maryland's two senators' who had publicly said Rosenstein lacked requisite deep roots in Maryland's legal community."

Rosenstein lacks ‘deep roots’ (Baltimore Examiner, 06/18/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli" "Virginia’s 4th Circuit Court seat was filled after a nominee whom both senators opposed withdrew. Yet President Bush won’t discuss other nominees [opposed] by home-state senators."

Comment on Sen. Hatch's "Need for Fairness in Nomination Proceedings" (The Hill, 06/11/08)
The Hill's Congress blog reply by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli to Sen. Hatch post links to collection of Hatch 1996-2000 statements on how 94 vacancies is not a crisis, judicial vacancy rates, total numbers of confirmed sitting judges, nominations, need to co-ordinate with home-state Senators, etc.

Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing, Obstructs Senate Debate on Global Warming (South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 06/05/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli: "After one judge was confirmed, scheduled votes on two 6th Circuit nominees were delayed by Republican Senators. The votes had already been re-scheduled for June 12th. Senators should reject this unjustifiable effort to obstruct this serious global warming debate."

RE: Republicans stall climate change bill to punish Reid [i.e., Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing, Obstructs Senate Debate on Global Warming] (Las Vegas Sun, 06/05/08)
Earthjustice: “Senators should reject this unjustifiable effort to obstruct the most serious debate Congress has ever had on global warming -- the greatest challenge the United States and the world have ever faced.... President Bush has failed to nominate anyone to 16 vacancies, including several that have been declared judicial emergencies. The Senate approved more than 300 Bush lifetime judges, but cannot confirm lifetime judges who have not been nominated.”

Article Discussion: Climate bill stalls in Senate after dispute (Denver Post [CO] , 06/05/08)
Earthjustice: "Senate opponents derailed Floor debate on bi-partisan climate change legislation.... they attempted to mask their cynical strategy of filibustering on behalf of the coal and oil industry by fabricating false claims that a deal to confirm three judges had been broken."

Judging the Environment’s Glenn Sugameli’s posted response & reply re: GOP halts Senate over Bush nominee (Washington Times, 06/04/08)
"Senate opponents derailed Floor debate on bi-partisan climate change legislation" and attempted to mask their cynical strategy by "fabricating false claims that a deal to confirm three judges had been broken."

RE: “Harry Reid's Handshake” (June 3)  (Wall Street Journal, 06/03/08)
Posted comment by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli details many ways in which Wall Street Journal Editorial "is inaccurate and misleading."

Response to "Senate Dems Bring Judicial Nominations To A Standstill" (The [Philadelphia] Bulletin, 05/30/08)
Detailed response by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli to article in The [Philadelphia] Bulletin includes discussion of nomination numbers, Robert Conrad and Steve Matthews.

Letter to the Editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli (Fort Dodge [IA] Messenger, 05/06/08)
An April 28 Fort Dodge Messenger editorial erroneously stated the Committee held a “hearing for 5th Circuit nominee Catharina Haynes, but took no action.” In fact, the Committee approved Haynes on April 3 and the Senate confirmed her on April 10.

Nominee Confirmed (Altoona [PA] Mirror, 04/24/08)
Letter to the Editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli correcting Altoona [PA] Mirror editorial - Catharina Haynes was confirmed and remaining vacancies were deliberately created by President Bush.

Judicial Vacancies (Lock Haven [PA] Express, 04/17/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli Letter to the Editor of the Lock Haven [PA] Express: President Bush can confirm lifetime judges, if and when he respects the Senate's constitutional advise-and-consent role.

President Bush is Responsible for Judicial Vacancies (Huffington Post, 04/14/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli published comment on John Fund Huffington Post/ WSJ column.

Glenn Sugameli: Senate GOP Leadership Threats to Shutdown the Senate over Judicial Nominees are Unjustifiable and Misdirected (Talking Justice blog, 04/04/08)
Talking Justice blog post by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

Re: Specter, Democrats trade blame on judges (Patriot-News [Harrisburg, PA] , 03/25/08)
Glenn Sugameli detailed posted comment

Posted Comments by Earthjustice’s Glenn Sugameli (The Hill, 03/10/08)
Posted Blog comments by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli mentioning controversial nominees Steve Matthews and Robert Conrad.

Letters to the Editor: Bush Chooses to Annoy Senators (Legal Times, 03/10/08)
Letter to the Editor by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli printed in Legal Times on President Bush's use of nominating controversial judicial nominations for political reasons.

Comments to ‘Nominations staredown in the Senate’ piece (Politico, 03/05/08)
Comments by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli to Politico Article on former nominee William J. Haynes.

Comments to “Trading Barbs over Judgeships” Article  (Legal Times, 03/05/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli posted comments to a recent Blog of Legal Times article citing Bush's record for nominating divisive judicial nominations.

President Bush is creating artificial vacancies  (Political Forum, 03/05/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli post explaining: "How the records of President George W. Bush's judicial selection process and his appellate nominees demonstrate that his nominees were chosen BECAUSE they would not be confirmed. "

The Patriot News blog comment by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli (Patriot Ledger [MA], 03/05/08)
President George W. Bush only listens to the Senate when its advice automatically echoes his own choices and its consent is a rubber stamp.

Tribune newspapers Swamp blog comments by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli (Chicago Tribune, 03/04/08)
The records of President George W. Bush's pending appellate nominees and the way in which others were chosen demonstrates that they were selected BECAUSE they would not be confirmed.

Bush Judicial Nominees- Torture, Alice in Wonderland, Shoplifting, Ethics and more (American Constitution Society Blog, 02/29/08)
Blog posting by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli featured on the American Constitution Society Blog comments on the controversial nominations of William Haynes, Jay Bybee, Claude Allen, Charles Pickering, Robert Conrad, Steve Matthews, Michael Wallace, William Myers, and Duncan Getchell.

Bush court picks come from right-wing fringe (Free Lance-Star [VA] , 02/16/08)
The Free Lance-Star letter to the editor by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli comments on Robert Conrad's controversial nomination to the 4th circuit.

Judicial vacancies exist because President Bush ignores remarkable compromises offered by Senators (Miami Herald, 02/12/08)
Comments by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on 4th circuit vacancies and Steve Matthews and Robert Conrad's nominations. Comments ALSO POSTED ON Blog of Legal Times, American Constitution Society Blog, Reno Gazette-Journal, Tulsa World, Topeka Capital-Journal, The News Tribune [WA], Star-Tribune [MN], and Mercury News' [CA] websites.

Comment on: 180 Bush nominees left in limbo (Deseret News [UT] , 02/12/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli: "Bush chose pending nominees to inflame his right-wing base with artificial vacancies."

Judicial vacancies exist because President Bush ignores remarkable compromises offered by Senators. (Houston Chronicle, 02/09/08)
Comments by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on the nominations of Robert Conrad and Steve Matthews. COMMENTS ALSO POSTED on Knoxville News Sentinel website.

Bush nominates judges who he knows won’t be confirmed (The Hill, 02/07/08)
Op-ed length Letter to the Editor by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli states, "Bush... is choosing nominees because they will not be confirmed, creating artificial vacancies to inflame his right-wing base."

Bush Urges Senate to Confirm Picks for Federal Posts  (Bloomberg News, 02/07/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli is quoted in a Bloomberg article saying President Bush created artificial vacancies by refusing to negotiate judicial nominations.

Getchell Withdraws 4th Circuit Nomination (ABA Journal, 01/24/08)
ABA Journal article by Debra Cassens Weiss reports on E. Duncan Getchell's withdrawal as 4th circuit nominee; quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

Sen. Craig’s Attack on Federalism (Idaho Examiner, 01/17/08)
Comments by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli to Idaho Examiner article on Senator Craig's failed Takings bill amendment.

Bush & Meese play politics with judicial nominees  (Greenville [SC] News, 01/08/08)
Comments by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli to an article published in the Greenville News on Edward Meese and judicial nominee Steve Matthews and their involvement with the Landmark Legal Foundation.

Comments to "Hon. Edwin Meese to speak to Greenville Federalist Society on January 14" (South Carolina Appellate Law, 01/07/08)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli online comments on South Carolina Appellate Law Blog regarding Ed Meese's speech on judicial nominations.

Allard’s outrageous attack on federalism (Rocky Mountain News [CO] , 12/29/07)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli's Letter to the Editor of the Rocky Mountain News [CO] on Senator Allard's support for Senator Craig's Takings Amendment.

Misguided move on public land (Daily Camera [CO] , 12/27/07)
Letter to the Editor by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Senator Craig's failed Takings Bill Amendment.

Comments (Telluride Daily Planet, 12/19/07)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli comments to the Telluride Watch Online's article on Senator Craig's Takings Amendment.

Candidate regrets: Brownback wishes he’d ‘been funnier’ (LJ World Blog, 12/19/07)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli comments in Lawrence Journal's blog [KS] on Senator Brownback & Senator Craig's Takings Amendment.

Comments to “‘Telluride Amendment’ to Farm Bill Dies in U.S. Senate” Article (Telluride Watch [CO] , 12/18/07)
Comments by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Telluride Watch Online's article on Larry Craig's 'Takings Law' Farm Bill Amendment.

Sen. Allard's Attack on Federalism (Daily Camera [CO] , 12/18/07)
Daily Camera posts Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli's Letter to the Editor Blog on Senator Allard's support for Senator Craig's Farm Bill Amendment.

Comments (High Country News, 12/18/07)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli comments on the High Country News article, "Rebels with a Lost Cause" about the Takings Law.

AGRICULTURE: Senate votes to end farm bill debate, extend CFTC act (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 12/14/07)
E&E article quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Senator Craig's failed "unconscionable and incomprehensible" amendment to the 2007 farm bill.

Craig's land rights amendment to farm bill delights supporters (Idaho Statesman, 12/13/07)
Article in the Idaho Statesman by Erica Bolstad quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

Comments on Craig Amendment (Oregonian, 12/13/07)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli comments on Sen. Craig's efforts to ban local, state, and federal eminent domain for public parks.

Senate Rejects Sen. Larry Craig’s Unconstitutional Assault on States, Localities and Parks (, 12/13/07)
Earthjustice Press Release on Senator Craig's failed amendment to Farm Bill.

Bush plays politics with judicial nominations  (Providence Journal [RI] , 12/13/07)
Providence Journal Op-Ed/Contribution by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli comments on President Bush's controversial nomination of Duncan Getchell, Rod Rosenstein, and Steve Matthews to the Federal Courts.

RE: Protecting The Constitution? (Daily News Record [VA] , 11/27/07)
Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli: "Nov. 15 Federalist Society speech attacked Senators for “politicizing” nominations to lifetime judgeships. Earlier that day, he announced a 4th Circuit Appeals Court nomination he knew Maryland’s Senators would block because of inadequate legal experience in the state. Bush previously ignored five joint recommendations by Sens. John Warner (R-Va.) and Jim Webb (D-Va.) and tapped someone they rejected for a Virginia 4th Circuit seat."

Judicial Nominees (Seattle Post-Intelligencer [WA], 11/24/07)
Rebuttal Letter to the Editor by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on 4th circuit judicial nominations.

How One Right-Wing Judge Can be a Wrecking Ball to the Constitution  (Buzz Flash, 11/16/07)
The Buzzflash.com Editor's blog quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on his views of President Bush's recent statements on judicial nominations at the Federalist Society Conference.

Bush, justices address Federalist Society (Los Angeles Times, 11/16/07)
Los Angeles Times article quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on President Bush's speak on judges at the Federal Society convention.

An ‘intimate, clandestine gathering of the secret Federalist Society’ (Carpetbagger, 11/16/07)
The Carpetbagger Report quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on President Bush's recent speech at the Federalist Society Convention.

Bush: 'Judicial lawlessness... needs to stop' (Tribune [FL] , 11/15/07)
Tribune's The Swamp Blog quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on the Federalist Society's convention.

Bush Derides Approval Process for Judicial Nominees (Bloomberg News, 11/15/07)
Article from Bloomberg news quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on President Bush's Federalist Society judicial nominations speech.

Serious Questions (Post and Courier [SC], 10/08/07)
Letter to the Editor of The Post and Courier from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Frank Wooten column belittles serious questions about 4th Circuit nomination of Robert J. Conrad, Jr., including Conrad's letter about Sr. Helen Prejean and Dead Man Walking; Conrad's testimony; and a major ruling in an environmental case.

Bush wants ideological fights, not judges (Politico, 10/08/07)
Glenn Sugameli, Opinion Column: "All too often, President Bush’s previous and current nominees for lifetime federal judgeships have been chosen precisely because their extreme records will reignite ideological battles, ensuring they will not be confirmed at all or without a major fight.... There is a better way. President Bush could respect senators’ “advise and consent” role, forgo needless fights and fill vacancies with mainstream judges."

AC-T skipped over a few details about Conrad (Asheville Citizen-Times [NC] , 09/30/07)
Letter to the Editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli explaining how editorial on 4th Circuit nominees identified problems with Duncan Getchell and Steve A. Matthews but glossed over record of Robert J. Conrad, Jr.

Fourth Circuiting the Environment? (Warming Law, 09/10/07)
Doug Kendall: "Some of the content of this post reflects research initially done by Glenn Sugameli, Senior Legislative Counsel at Earthjustice. Thanks, Glenn! More resources on Matthews, Getchell, and others being considered for the federal judiciary can be found at Judging the Environment"

Judicial nominee is not without problems (Free Lance-Star [VA] , 08/15/07)
Letter to the Editor by Glenn Sugameli of Earthjustice comments on how judicial nomination editorial did not reflect how President Bush ignored the bipartisan list of five names submitted jointly by Virginia's Senators, and how concerns with Leslie Southwick nomination include "his apparent pro-corporate tilt and his rulings against access to courts and workers' rights."

Vacancies Affect Other Circuits, Too (Richmond Times-Dispatch [VA], 08/11/07)
Letter to the Editor by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on 4th circuit and other vacancies caused by President Bush's pattern of refusing to work with Republican and Democratic home-state Senators and his selection of deliberately provocative nominees.

Letter to the Editor (The Courier [OH] , 08/07/07)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli responds to recent commentary on Leslie Southwick's 5th circuit nomination.

Bush Judicial Nominee Passes Big Senate Hurdle (Fox News, 08/02/07)
Article by Trish Turner of Fox News quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on the nomination of Leslie Southwick to the 5th Circuit

The Southwick Nomination (Washington Times, 07/24/07)
Letter to the Editor by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli states, Washington Times article "does not reflect the full scope and nature of the problems with Leslie Southwick's nomination . . . . Serious concerns raised by Earthjustice and other environmental groups focused on unfair denial of access to courts and judicial activism."

Misjudging Leslie (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review [PA] , 07/20/07)
Letter to the editor by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli: Leslie Southwick's "record as a judge, combined with Judge Southwick's own words, raise questions about his ability to be a fair and neutral arbiter of environmental and other cases that involve the interests of corporate defendants."

Bush judicial appointments impacting the environment (Examiner, 07/03/07)
Letter to the Editor by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli correcting The Examiner's editorial that confused Justice Anthony Kennedy and Justice Stevens in stating that Chief Justice Roberts is striking “mighty blows … joined . . . by Justice John Paul Stevens.”

COURTS: Enviros slam controversial appeals court nominee (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 06/15/07)
"Environmental groups -- among them Earthjustice, Friends of the Earth and the Sierra Club -- yesterday joined the chorus of criticism, although the groups stopped short of flatly opposing the nomination."

Vote delayed again on controversial Mississippi judge (Facing South, 06/14/07)
Facing South Blog, by Sue Sturgis, mentions the June 13, 2007 Letter of Concern signed by Earthjustice on Leslie Southwick's nomination.

Democratic-Led Alliance Targets Environmental Views Of Bush Judicial Nominees (Inside EPA, 05/22/07)
Focus on Earthjustice's campaign to raise environmental profile of Bush judicial nominees & oppose Kuhl, Estrada, Wolski & Owen.

Justices Lobby House for Raise (Legal Times, 04/23/07)
April 23, 2007 Legal Times Article on Justices Breyer and Alito's testimony before the House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property during an oversight hearing on "Federal Judicial Compensation."

2 justices tell Congress judges need raises (Chicago Daily Law, 04/19/07)
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Article on Justices Breyer and Alito's testimony before the House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property during an oversight hearing on "Federal Judicial Compensation."

The Case of the Term Goes Against the White House (Washington Post, 04/02/07)
Extensively quotes Earthjustice on Supreme Court's global warming decision.

JUDGE NOT: Myers' nomination blocked due to his own missteps (Gazette (Colorado Springs), 03/01/07)
Letter to the editor by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli responding to The Gazette's sympathetic editorial on former Ninth Circuit nominee William G. Myers III.

Idaho Gains Smith, but Loses Clout on Court (Times-News [ID] , 01/23/07)
Withdrawal of William Myers means Idaho loses seat in Court of Appeals

Idaho loses fine state judge, gains fine U.S. judge (Lewiston Tribune [ID], 01/19/07)
Editorial by the Lewiston Tribune, quoting Earthjustice’s Glenn Sugameli. The editorial commends the President's decision to nominate Judge Randy Smith in place of withdrawn Ninth Circuit nominee, William Myers III.

Senate Dems poised to accept new nominee for 9th Circuit seat (Greenwire, 01/17/07)
"President Bush's actions regarding the William Myers and Randy Smith 9th Circuit nominations were a belated recognition of reality," Earthjustice attorney Glenn Sugameli said today.

Bush nominates the right judge to the wrong seat (Lewiston Tribune [ID], 01/11/07)
President should nominate Randy Norman Smith to Idaho's 9th Circuit seat.

Renomination Prolongs Calif., Idaho Battle (Daily Journal [CA] , 01/10/07)
Glenn Sugameli of Earthjustice: "Myers was the worst on the environment," and his withdrawal "is obviously very good news."

Anti-Environmental Judicial Nominee Myers Withdraws (Environment News Service, 01/10/07)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli hailed Myers' withdrawal: "The Senate blocked William Myers's nomination because of his discredited actions as the Interior Department's top lawyer. As the Department's Solicitor, he unjustifiably favored mining companies and other special interests at the expense of his responsibilities to enforce the laws that protect taxpayers, tribal rights, and the environment. Myers' legal positions as Interior Solicitor were rejected by the Interior Department and by federal and state courts."

4 white flags fly in courts fight  (Los Angeles Times, 01/10/07)
White House decides not to resubmit William Myers and three others: "For the first time ever, a nominee for a lifetime federal judgeship has been forced to withdraw because his anti-environmental record generated bipartisan opposition," said lawyers for Earthjustice.

Bush's 9th Circuit pick withdraws his nomination (San Francisco Chronicle [CA], 01/10/07)
Opposed by environmental groups and Indian tribes, William Myers was the first judicial nominee to lose primarily because of his environmental record, said Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli: "As a lifetime Ninth Circuit judge, Myers would have had the power to turn his pro-industry bias into legal precedents governing nine Western states that contain nearly three-quarters of our public lands."

Bush Revives Controversial EPA, OMB Nominees With Senate Submission (Inside EPA, 01/10/07)
William Myers III was opposed by a bipartisan group of senators primarily because of his environmental record. Glenn Sugameli of Earthjustice: Myers' withdrawal “is long overdue, and a victory for the environment.”

Three-year Myers confirmation fight draws to a close (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 01/09/07)
The Nomination of William Myers to the 9th Circuit was not resubmitted. "Myers's withdrawal is long overdue, and a victory for the environment," said Earthjustice attorney Glenn Sugameli.

Myers withdraws nomination, pleasing environmentalists  (Denver Post [CO] , 01/09/07)
Glenn Sugameli of Earthjustice cited William Myers' actions as the Interior’s Department top lawyer. “He unjustifiably favored mining companies and other special interests at the expense of laws that protect taxpayers, tribal rights and the environment.(If he had been confirmed), Myers would have had power to turn his pro-industry bias into legal precedents governing nine Western states.”

Haynes, Myers, Boyle and Wallace Withdraw  (How Appealing, 01/09/07)
How Appealing blog: "Earthjustice has issued a press release entitled "Anti-Environmental Judicial Nominee Myers Withdraws; Bi-partisan Senate action and environmental concerns defeated 9th Circuit nominee."

Four Appeals Court Choices Dropped From Consideration (Bloomberg News, 01/09/07)
Earthjustice said Myers was the first judicial nominee opposed primarily because of his record on the environment.

Environmentalists Oppose Alito for Supreme Court  (Global Report, 12/29/06)
“Judge Alito’s record indicates that he would pursue his own extreme legal theories to create new barriers that prevent the enactment and enforcement of national laws that protect families and communities from pollution,” said Sugameli. “There is too much at stake; Judge Alito’s nomination must be defeated.”

Myers sunk his own chances of confirmation (Times-News [ID] , 12/21/06)
Letter to the Editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli responding to editorial on Ninth Circuit nominee William G. Myers III.

Keisler must be blocked. (TalkLeft blog, 11/17/06)
Talking Left Blog mentions Earthjustice's comments and website on Peter Keisler's nomination.

Group: Bush's Renomination of Controversial Judges Wrong Move (CivilRights.org, 11/16/06)
President Bush's decision on November 15 to renominate ten judges he pulled in early October has angered civil rights groups who say he is missing an opportunity to work in a bipartisan fashion with the newly Democratic Senate.

Democratic control of Senate may not end fight over judges (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 11/16/06)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli: President Bush's resubmittal of blocked judicial nominees "suggests that he will continue to refuse to consult with the Senate. It's one of the first things he did after meeting with the Senate leadership and saying he would cooperate. It's a very strange stick in the eye."

Regulatory takings measures fail in Calif., Idaho and Wash. (Greenwire, 11/08/06)
Greenwire article on Takings law quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

MINING: OSM says former mine owners not liable for new SMCRA violations (Land Letter, 10/12/06)
"Glenn Sugameli, an attorney for Earthjustice who has litigated coal mining cases in the past, said OSM's regulatory record on mine ownership and control is rife with problems. In some cases, he said, mining companies who violate SMCRA avoid responsibility by dismantling an existing corporation and forming a new one under a different name. In other cases, he said, mining companies will try to disassociate themselves with a problem mine by pinning blame for violations on independent contractors. 'There are real problems here, and they have recurred over and over again,' Sugameli said. 'If those regulations are weakened or loopholes are created that allow companies to avoid responsibility by creating another company, then it eliminates a very vital tool' for enforcing SMCRA, Sugameli added."

Radio Interview of Glenn Sugameli (Clear View radio, 10/05/06)
"Clear View" radio interview of Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on judicial nominations and the environment.

PUBLIC LANDS: Takings bill expected to return for House vote this week (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 09/27/06)
Earthjustice's Glenn] Sugameli said. "Opposition is just going to continue to grow."

Takings bill fails on House floor (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 09/26/06)
Earthjustice’s Glenn Sugameli predicted the Senate would not approve the bill. The quick House vote "was definitely an attempt to get it out before anyone would know what was going on."

Plan to Break Up 9th Circuit Court Faces Opposition (Los Angeles Times, 09/21/06)
A broad array of judges, law professors, bar associations and political leaders came out Wednesday against splitting the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, as the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington took up the thorny issue.

View live, online this afternoon's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing (How Appealing, 09/20/06)
How Appealing blog coverage of Senate hearing: "The organization Earthjustice has compiled a comprehensive collection of links in opposition to splitting up the Ninth Circuit."

Editorial overstated support for Myers, 9th Split (Times-News [ID] , 09/03/06)
Letter to the Editor from Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli responding to editorial on William Myers' nomination to the Ninth Circuit.

Court rules laws on wetlands apply to family's farm (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [PA], 09/03/06)
Article extensively quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on court decisions on "takings" and property rights including rejections of challenges to laws that "limit the ability of one property owner to use his property in a way that it harms others, and others' properties, the community and the environment."

Businesses Sit Out Fight Over Splitting the 9th Circuit (Daily Journal [CA] , 08/17/06)
News article by Lawrence Hurley quoting Earthjustice on the potential benefit to certain business interests if the 9th Circuit were split.

Narrowed Appellate Rules on 'Standing' May Still Deter Citizen Suits (Inside EPA, 08/04/06)
Earthjustice and other judicial groups named in article opposing new EPA rule.

Environmentalists Ask Senate to Leave the 9th Circuit Alone  (Daily Journal [CA] , 08/04/06)
Article on the 9th Circuit Split quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

Environmental Groups Oppose Proposal to Split the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (Daily Report for Executives, 08/04/06)
While supporters of splitting the 9th Circuit are now stressing administrative efficiency, their true motivation is ideological, with the goal of obtaining more conservative rulings through "environmental gerrymandering," said Glenn Sugameli, Earthjustice's senior legislative counsel.

Why split the Ninth Circuit? (How Appealing, 08/03/06)
How Appealing blog on 9th Circuit split: To appreciate the anti-split side of the argument, be sure to visit this impressive collection of links at Earthjustice's website.

New Opposition to Efforts to Split the Ninth Circuit; (How Appealing, 08/03/06)
How Appealing blog: The organization Earthjustice today issued a press release that begins, "Today, Earthjustice and more than 100 civil rights, women's rights, disability rights, labor, health, religious, senior, conservation and other national, regional, state and local groups, sent a letter to Senators urging them to oppose S. 1845, 'The Circuit Court of Appeals Restructuring and Modernization Act of 2005,' and other proposals to split the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals into two or more circuit courts." You can access that letter at this link. And a related document, titled "Ideologically-Based Efforts to Split the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals," is here.

Splitting The Ninth Circuit (KUSP 88.9 FM Santa Cruz, 07/24/06)
Gary Patton's Land Use Reports "Website (giving information on how you can oppose the Ninth Circuit split) – http://www.judgingtheenvironment.org/"

The Empty Cowboy Hat rides again (Badlands Journal, 07/17/06)
Quotes entire factsheet by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on how "Representative Richard Pombo’s (R-CA) Endangered Species Act bill (HR 3824) ...would force taxpayers to pay unlimited amounts for any business losses from speculative development schemes that corporations never had the right to pursue in the first place."

Justices open wetlands wars: The high court splits three ways, leaving wetlands battles to be decided "case by case." (St. Petersburg Times [FL] , 06/20/06)
"Talk about murky waters,'' said Joan Mulhern of the environmental law firm Earthjustice.

Justices wade into Clean Water Act: High court sets some limits on federal control of wetlands (San Francisco Chronicle [CA], 06/20/06)
"Unfortunately, this split decision will likely spur more litigation efforts by industry and polluters to try to strip away Clean Water Act protections,'' said Joan Mulhern, an attorney with Earthjustice, which represented the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental groups before the court.

Clean Water Act ruling illustrates court's shift (Boston Globe, 06/20/06)
David Baron of Earthjustice , an environmentalist group that filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the Army Corps, said he was heartened that Kennedy did not endorse Scalia's more restrictive opinion. There is a majority rejecting this extreme view that Justice Scalia puts forth, that tries to limit the Clean Water Act only to continuously flowing streams," Baron said. ``That's a concept that has never been around before, and a majority of the justices plainly reject it."

Groups see methyl bromide ruling as potential signal of limits on court access.(AIR) (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, 03/13/06)
"It's another disturbing decision cutting back on access [to the courts]," Glenn Sugameli, senior attorney at Earthjustice, told PTCN. Sugameli agreed it would be difficult to define precisely what constitute a "substantial probability" of injury, making the approach used by several other federal courts of appeal--basing standing on an increased risk of injury--the proper approach. He said access to the courts has been an issue of concern for Earthjustice and other environmental groups with respect to a number of Bush judicial nominees, including the two new members of the Supreme Court--Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito.

Alito will shift the Supreme Court to extreme right (Silver Chips newspaper [MD] , 03/02/06)
"Rulings like these prompted many environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, the National Environmental Trust, Earthjustice and Friends of the Earth to vigorously oppose Alito's confirmation in order to ensure the continued protection of the environment."

Supreme Court to hear wetlands case challenge (USA Today, 02/19/06)
"These federal environmental laws were designed to help keep peace among the states, to give them a way to address upstream pollution problems coming from their neighbors," said Howard Fox, a lawyer for the environmental group Earthjustice. "In Louisiana, pollution comes as far away as Wyoming and Minnesota."

Landowners' Supreme Court Case May Limit U.S. Clean-Water Rules (Bloomberg News, 02/17/06)
Clean Water Act cases from February 2006 are discussed along with their implications.

Justice Alito's Green Day: New justice to wade into Clean Water Act cases (Legal Times, 02/08/06)
Alito's "rulings on the bench led major environmental groups to oppose Alito. 'Judge Alito's record is more troubling than either Judge Roberts' or Harriet Miers', Earthjustice concluded."

Senate confirms Alito for Supreme Court, 58-42 (Greenwire, 01/31/06)
Earthjustice executive director Buck Parker: "We knew going in that this was an uphill battle. But the stakes were too high for us to stay out of the fight. The American public needed to know about Judge Alito's record of siding with polluters over communities."

Alito Sworn in as U.S. Supreme Court Justice (Environment News Service, 01/31/06)
Various environmental groups, including Earthjustice, express their concern over the Alito confirmation.

Alito confirmation prompts mixed reactions  (Jurist, 01/31/06)
Taking an environmental perspective, Earthjustice [official website] said Alito's appointment poses an immediate threat to the protection of America's drinking water, creeks, streams and wetlands.

WICH-AM Radio Interview with Glenn Sugameli (WICH-AM [CT] , 01/27/06)
Radio interview with Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on the nomination of Samuel Alito.

Environmentalists Campaign Against Alito, Fearing Nation's Pollution and Health Laws at Risk (Between the Lines, 01/27/06)
Award-winning syndicated radio program Between The Lines: Melinda Tuhus interviews Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli about why environmental activists oppose Judge Alito's confirmation and what they are doing about it.

Alito confirmation could harm Isle waters (Honolulu Advertiser, 01/26/06)
Earthjustice attorney Kapua Sproat Op-Ed on negative consequences that Alito confirmation might have for Clean Water protections.

Florida's Stake In Defeating Alito (Tampa Tribune [FL] , 01/25/06)
Op-Ed by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli in the Tampa Tribune [FL], urging Florida Senators Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez to oppose Judge Alito's Supreme Court confirmation

One of 50 environmental groups who say Alito would be bad for the environment (WMNF FM 88.5 [FL] , 01/25/06)
Radio interview with Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli addressing environmental groups' opposition to the Alito nomination.

Environmental group one of 50 who say Alito would be bad for the environment  (WMNF FM 88.5 [FL] , 01/25/06)
Radio interview with Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Alito's environmental record.

WMNF Radio Interview with Glenn Sugameli (WMNF FM 88.5 [FL] , 01/25/06)
Radio interview with Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli on the impact of Samuel Alito nomination on Florida's environment.

WAXE-AM Radio Interview with Glenn Sugameli (WAXE-AM [FL] , 01/25/06)
Radio interview with Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on the nomination of Samuel Alito.

56 Environmental, Conservation Groups Nix Alito for Supreme Court (Environment News Service, 01/24/06)
Reasons for Earthjustice's opposition to Alito's confirmation are detailed.

Environmental group opposes Alito confirmation (Shreveport Times [LA], 01/24/06)
Op-Ed by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli begins, "The U.S. Senate is considering whether to confirm Judge Samuel Alito Jr. to a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, many commentators have not focused on Alito's extreme record as an appellate judge of legislating from the bench on issues central to protecting public health and the environment in Louisiana and nationwide."

Environmental Rulings Should Sink Alito (Gazette (Colorado Springs), 01/24/06)
Opinion by Earthjustice's Ted Zukoski on Judge Alito's poor Clean Water record and the effect that his confirmation to the Supreme Court might have on pending Clean Water cases.

KCLA-AM, KZYQ-AM, WBBS-AM radio interview of Glenn Sugameli (, 01/21/06)
Radio interview of Glenn Sugameli on Samuel Alito nomination.

Environmental Groups Voice Strong Opposition to Alito Supreme Court Nomination  (Bush Greenwatch, 01/20/06)
Glenn Sugameli, senior counsel at Earthjustice: "Judge Alito's record," continued Sugameli, "indicates that he would pursue his own extreme legal theories to create new barriers that prevent the enactment and enforcement of national laws that protect families and communities from pollution."

Environmental Groups Voice Strong Opposition to Alito Supreme Court Nomination (Bush Greenwatch, 01/20/06)
The negative implications of Alito's confirmation for the environment, and in particular clean water, are discussed.

Alito threatens health and clean water (Providence Journal [RI] , 01/19/06)
Op-ed by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Judge Alito's environmental and public health record.

KCAP-AM Radio Interview of Glenn Sugameli (KCAP-AM, 01/19/06)
Radio interview with Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on the nomination of Samuel Alito.

Powernomics Radio Network Interview of Glenn Sugameli (Powernomics Radio Network, 01/17/06)
Powernomics Radio Network's Tom Pope's interview with Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on the nomination of Samuel Alito.

Alito says he would defer to EPA's authority (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 01/13/06)
E&E Daily article on Samuel Alito's confirmation process quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

KGVO-AM Radio Interview (, 01/12/06)
Radio interview of Earthjustice's Ted Zukoski

Radio Interview with Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on the Alito Nomination (KALW-FM, 01/12/06)
Radio Interview from the Your Call program on KALW-FM.

Feinstein Grills Alito on Rulings in Key Environmental Cases (Democracy Now, 01/12/06)
Democracy Now (daily radio & TV news program on over 500 stations): transcript of interview with Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

COURTS: Alito defends record on environment as Feinstein attacks (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 01/12/06)
Earthjustice attorney Glenn Sugameli said Alito's comment showed little recognition that the Laidlaw decision essentially overruled his earlier decision on environmental standing. "He's still talking about it as if there's a requirement that a person who uses a stream ... where there's 150 Clean Water violations has to somehow prove that pollution violations are making the water dangerous and not just that he doesn't want to use that stream or swim in that stream," Sugameli said. "He's refusing to back down at all from these opinions that are very disturbing and that he knew were very controversial."

Pacifica Radio KNON-FM Interview of Glenn Sugameli (KNON-FM, 01/12/06)
National Pacifica Radio interview with Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli about the nomination of Samuel Alito.

WCOJ -AM Radio Interview with Glenn Sugameli (WCOJ-AM [PA] , 01/12/06)
Radio interview with Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on the nomination of Samuel Alito.

Earthjustice Opposes Judge Alito's Nomination to the Supreme Court (Indy Bay [CA] , 01/12/06)
Earthjustice joined four other national environmental groups in formal opposition to the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito Jr. This is the first time in nearly 20 years that Earthjustice has opposed a Supreme Court nominee.

COURTS: Alito defends controversial Commerce Clause ruling (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 01/11/06)
Earthjustice Attorney Glenn Sugameli said Alito's claim that he was following Supreme Court precedent was somewhat misleading, especially given that several other courts had issued rulings that directly contradicted Alito's reasoning. "This was not at all a clear decision, it was not at all obvious, it was not at all straightforward," Sugameli said. "He very much took a view that was going out on a limb. It was misleading to imply that his opinion was an obvious application of Lopez." Sugameli, whose group has opposed the Alito nomination, said there was nothing in Alito's testimony yesterday -- either in the exchange with Feinstein or in other parts of the hearing -- that altered the group's perception that Alito could pose a threat to many environmental laws. "He still doesn't indicate that he thinks his opinions were wrong, he doesn't back away to any extent," he said.

Executive power front and center for Alito (The Hill, 01/11/06)
Democratic Senators, along with Earthjustice, express dissatisfaction with Alito's first round confirmation hearing.

Earthjustice says Supreme Court nominee's position bodes poorly for the future of Clean Water Act (Water World, 01/11/06)
In a series of rather stunning responses to questions from Senators at his confirmation hearing today, Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito defended his decision in a key public health and water pollution case to dismiss the lawsuit brought by citizens to clean up pollution in the Delaware River, declared the nonprofit public interest law firm Earthjustice.

Imperial Presidency Fears, Environmental Groups' First Opposition Since Bork (Kansas City Infozone, 01/10/06)
Glenn Sugameli of Earthjustice: "Judge Alito's record indicates that he would pursue his own extreme legal theories to create new barriers that prevent the enactment and enforcement of national laws that protect families and communities from pollution."

Alito's Opponents Stake Out Positions (Legal Intelligencer, 01/09/06)
Article quotes Earthjustice's report warning that Samuel Alito "would pursue his own extreme legal theories to create new barriers that prevent the enactment and enforcement of national laws that protect families and communities from pollution."

COURTS: Environmental groups rally against Alito as hearings begin (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 01/09/06)
Article on Alito nomination describes opposition by Earthjustice and other environmental groups.

Clean Water Cases Seen As Bellwether For Revamped Supreme Court (Inside EPA, 01/04/06)
The Supreme Court's upcoming review of two cases focusing on the scope of the Clean Water Act (CWA) is being viewed as a bellwether for the high court's future views on environmental issues following the recent confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts -- and the possible addition of Judge Samuel Alito, Earthjustice and other legal observers say.

Green Groups Oppose Alito Bid (Washington Times, 12/30/05)
Earthjustice and other environmental groups, which typically do not weigh in on Supreme Court nominations, have joined the chorus of liberal interest groups opposing Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr.'s bid to the high court.

Environmental Groups Declare Opposition To Alito's Nomination to Supreme Court (BNA, 12/23/05)
"There were eight nominees between Bork and Alito whom we did not oppose," said Earthjustice Senior Counsel Glenn Sugameli.

WBAI Pacifica Radio interview of Glenn Sugameli (WBAI Pacifica Radio [NY] , 12/23/05)
Radio interview of Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Alito nomination.

Environmental Groups Oppose Alito for Supreme Court (About.com, 12/22/05)
"America depends upon Supreme Court justices to uphold and enforce our nation's environmental safeguards and to protect the rights of all Americans. We cannot afford to have someone like Judge Alito deciding which rights will be protected, and which will be thrown out," said Buck Parker, Executive Director of Earthjustice. "After a careful consideration of Judge Alito's record, we believe that, if confirmed to the Supreme Court, he would vote to roll back key protections for public health and the environment."

Ohio News Network radio interview of Glenn Sugameli (Ohio Radio News Network, 12/22/05)
Radio network interview of Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli about Samuel Alito nomination

Judiciary Democrats Want Alito Papers (Associated Press, 12/21/05)
On December 20, 2005, several environmental groups, including Earthjustice, Greenpeace, the Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth, called for Alito's defeat. Alito is the first nominee environmental groups have opposed since Robert Bork.

Environmentalists Join in Opposing Alito Nomination  (New Standard, 12/21/05)
Several environmental groups have announced their concerted opposition to Judge Samuel Alito’s nomination. Earthjustice stated: "Judge Alito’s record indicates that he would pursue his own extreme legal theories to create new barriers that prevent the enactment and enforcement of national laws that protect families and communities from pollution."

Enviros launch campaign to derail Alito nomination (Greenwire, 12/20/05)
Article on Alito nomination quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

Environmentalists Declare Opposition to Alito for Supreme Court (Environment News Service, 12/20/05)
Four environmental groups and Earthjustice, a nonprofit, public interest environmental law firm, today formally declared their opposition to Alito for the lifetime Supreme Court appointment - the first environmentalist campaign against a Supreme Court nominee in 18 years. Article includes extensive interview of Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

Gleason Radio Group (5 Maine stations interview of Glenn Sugameli (Gleason Radio Group, 12/20/05)
The Gleason Radio Group in Maine (WCNM-AM, WTME-AM, WKTQ-AM,WOXO-FM & WTBM-FM) Scott Garrett, reporter, interview of Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Samuel Alito nomination.

Earthjustice Opposes Alito Nomination  (Daily Kos, 12/20/05)
"Today Earthjustice (the law firm for the environment) announced that for the first time in almost 20 years, they are opposing a Supreme Court nominee. Read below to find out why Alito presents a direct threat to the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. And also read how Alito wants to put in place barriers that will prevent average citizens from using the courts to protect themselves and their communities."

House-passed reconciliation report slashes farm conservation funding (Greenwire, 12/19/05)
Greenwire article on the Ninth Circuit Split quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

Alito to Face Questions about President's War Powers  (Associated Press, 12/19/05)
Associated Press reports that Earthjustice plans to announce opposition to Judge Alito's confirmation.

Green Groups Mobilize Against Alito (Wall Street Journal, 12/14/05)
Alito's history with environmental cases and the impact of his appointment to the Supreme Court are discussed.

COURTS: Alito would limit federal judicial role (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 11/30/05)
Earthjustice Attorney Glenn Sugameli said Alito's answer is troublesome because it seemingly ignores the many legal precedents for ensuring plaintiffs' access to the federal courts. "It doesn't show any balance. It's not like he said, 'Well, there are limits on access to courts but it's also important to protect access to courts,'" Sugameli said. "Technically, what he's saying is that he's only applying the precedents that restrict standing."

A Quiet Move in House to Split the 9th Circuit (San Francisco Chronicle [CA], 11/30/05)
Quotes Judges and other opponents of splitting the 9th Circuit, including Earthjustice's Todd True.

U.S. House of Representatives passes legislation that mandates split of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (How Appealing, 11/18/05)
How Appealing blog: "According to this press release from Earthjustice, the provision was a part of the budget reconciliation bill that passed the House by a vote of 217-215 early this morning."

Radio Interview with Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Alito Nomination  (Air America, 11/12/05)
Air America's 'Ring of Fire' program with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. interviews Glenn Sugameli of Earthjustice on the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.

Appellate Standing Plan Could Limit Suits on EPA Rules, Activists Say (Inside EPA, 11/11/05)
Article mentions Earthjustice as one of the groups opposed to the new legal rules regarding EPA and filing lawsuits.

Watch Senior Judicial Counsel Glenn Sugameli and Mark Levy discuss Alito's Record on the Commerce Clause (On Point, 11/07/05)
Watch E&ETV's webcast: Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli and attorney Mark Levy discuss Alito's record on the commerce clause.

Court Nominee Has Paper Trail Businesses Like (New York Times, 11/05/05)
The New York Times quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli regarding Judge Alito's record on access to courts and Congress' Commerce Clause authority to protect the environment.

BUDGET: House panel moves reconciliation, but floor picture is cloudy (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 11/04/05)
Earthjustice Attorney Glenn Sugameli said that while Senate Republicans may agree with the fundamental principles of the bill, key members such as Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) will be unwilling to back a proposal that circumvents the Senate. "There's some political dynamics that still make this extremely unpopular and unlikely," Sugameli said. The proposal to split the 9th Circuit is unpopular with the overwhelming majority of California politicians -- regardless of party -- and it remains to be seen whether the language will cause problems for the whole bill with California Republicans. "It also doesn't make sense politically to load down the reconciliation bill when there's so much baggage on it already," Sugameli said.

Alito's Enviro Past (AlterNet, 11/02/05)
Article extensively quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

Alito Record Shows Mixed Rulings On Environmental Laws  (Inside EPA, 11/02/05)
Article quotes an Earthjustice press release that comments on Samuel Alito's judicial environmental record.

Alito's not-so-clean record (Grist, 11/02/05)
There is little on Judge Alito's record that encourages environmentalists.

Alito's Record Shows Backing of Business Interests (Wall Street Journal, 11/01/05)
Wall St. Journal: Earthjustice states that Judge Alito repeatedly has sought to scale back congressional power "to enact laws that protect our health and environment."

Locals Chime in on Bush's Court Pick (Ocala Star Banner [FL] , 11/01/05)
Article cites Earthjustice press release and discusses concerns about Judge Alito's ideology.

Environmental groups oppose Alito (Endangered Species & Wetlands Report, 11/01/05)
Earthjustice, Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and the National Environmental Trust are opposing the nomination of Circuit Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, citing Commerce Clause concerns.

'Very concerned' enviros ponder justice nominee Alito's record (Greenwire, 11/01/05)
Glenn Sugameli: "Earthjustice is extremely concerned that Judge Alito has repeatedly sought to go even farther than the current Supreme Court majority in restricting Congress' authority to allow Americans to protect their rights in court, and to enact laws that protect our health and environment, . . . . the most important indication of how he might rule on the court is how he has ruled over the last 15 years."

The Sum of Alito Fears (Grist, 11/01/05)
Concerns over Judge Alito's environmental record and how his opinions might tilt the Supreme Court are expressed.

Reaction to Alito's Nomination  (Stories in America, 10/31/05)
Quotes and links to reaction by Glenn Sugameli

Environmental Lawyers Wary of Supreme Court Nominee (Environment News Service, 10/31/05)
Interview of Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli details environmental concerns with Judge Alito's selection and opinions Judge Alito has written.

GOP 'Agenda" on environment suits cited to fight 9th circuit bills (Inside EPA, 10/28/05)
Article quotes Earthjustice's letter of opposition to the efforts by some Republicans to split the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Lawmakers renew push to break up 9th Circuit (Santa Monica Daily Press [CA] , 10/28/05)
Quotes Judging the Environment's Glenn Sugameli

Bush 'reluctantly' accepts nominee's withdrawal from Supreme Court bid (Greenwire, 10/27/05)
Greenwire article by Alex Kaplun on the failed nomination of Harriet Miers quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

GOP renews push to split 9th Circuit in half (Associated Press, 10/27/05)
Associated Press: Republicans in Congress are renewing their push to break up the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals: "It's an attempt to gerrymander the court to change the outcome of specific cases," said Glenn Sugameli, a legislative counsel at Earthjustice.

Lawmakers fast-track Western court breakup  (Juneau Empire [AK] , 10/26/05)
The subcommittee's move "fits the recent pattern in the House to ram a host of terrible bills through before (politicians), the media and the public figures out what is happening," said Glenn Sugameli.

COURTS: 9th Circuit split-up headed for House markup today (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 10/25/05)
Earthjustice attorney Glenn Sugameli: "If they really cared about efficiency in the House, there would be no reason to skip a hearing. The fact that the House is not holding a hearing on a bill that was introduced last Friday shows that they're trying to gerrymander the court."

COURTS: Dems, GOP raise questions about Miers' inexperience on the bench (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 10/04/05)
"She does not, at least initially, have a public record for good or bad on the key issues," said Earthjustice attorney Glenn Sugameli.

Bush picks White House counsel Miers for spot on Supreme Court (Greenwire, 10/03/05)
Article in Greenwire quotes Earthjustice.

TODAY IS THE DAY TO FIGHT FOR THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (updated)  (Daily Kos, 09/29/05)
“The bill would create an unlimited new entitlement that would force hardworking taxpayers to write blank checks to big developers and corporations simply for obeying the law that prevents them from unreasonably wiping out species,” said Glenn Sugameli, Earthjustice’s Senior Legislative Counsel.

COURTS: Roberts hearing does little to alleviate enviros' concerns (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 09/16/05)
"He was asked questions about the issues that we've raised, and he didn't fully answer those questions," said Earthjustice attorney Glenn Sugameli.

COURTS: Roberts ducks questions on Commerce Clause but addresses ESA (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 09/14/05)
Earthjustice attorney Glenn Sugameli: Roberts dodged the key issue of what harm must be shown to bring a lawsuit to stop pollution. "There's a lot of damage that could be done to people's ability to go to court that's totally consistent with Roberts' answer. The fact that he won't entirely wipe out the right to go to court on environmental cases doesn't assure us that he won't severely limit that right."

COURTS: Roberts hearings begin today with opening statements (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 09/12/05)
10 major environmental groups, including Earthjustice, again expressed concern over Roberts' position on congressional authority to enact environmental laws, and on access to courts.

Environmentalists stop short of opposing Chief Justice nominee (Inside EPA, 09/09/05)
Article mentions letter of concern Earthjustice and other environmental organizations sent to Senate members.

Rehnquist's death scrambles Senate schedule (Greenwire, 09/06/05)
Earthjustice and other environmental groups cite access to courts and Commerce Clause concerns with John Roberts' nomination.

Liberal Activists Say Access To Courts Key  (Investor's Business Daily, 09/02/05)
Critics of Judge John Roberts' nomination to the Supreme Court want senators to ask him about "access to courts." Earthjustice's Terrill North states: "There seems to be a pattern throughout his career where he has tried to deny people access to courts."

Estimates of payments under Pombo bill vary widely (Endangered Species & Wetlands Report, 09/01/05)
Glenn Sugameli, Earthjustice senior legislative counsel: “The CBO estimate of costs for Pombo’s bill is absurdly low, conclusory, and in conflict with economics, experience, the amount of pending ESA takings claims (not to mention Pombo’s and the Resources Committee’s estimates of lost profits and land value from ESA), logic and OMB’s estimate of the costs of similar” Contract with America provisions.

Divided circuit courts muddy regulation of wetlands (Recorder, 08/25/05)
"This is sort of a shotgun approach," responded Glenn Sugameli senior legislative counsel for EarthJustice, which represents environmental groups. The current Bush administration is opposing many of these new challenges, he said. "That tells you how extreme their [Pacific Legal Foundation] arguments are. This is not an administration that has gone out of its way to protect the environment," Sugameli said.

Greens Worried About Roberts' Environmental Stance (E/The Environmental Magazine, 08/23/05)
E Magazine reports that Glenn Sugameli of the environmental law firm Earthjustice is concerned that Roberts might question "the constitutionality of important protections under the Endangered Species Act."

A friend of Bush is no friend of the environment (St. Petersburg Times [FL] , 08/22/05)
Editorial column by Diane Roberts discusses John Roberts' poor environmental record and quotes Glenn Sugameli, senior legislative counsel for Earthjustice, a national law firm: "He seems not to recognize that he's talking about the potential extinction of a species."

The Toad Less Traveled (Investor's Business Daily, 08/16/05)
Editorial quotes Glenn Sugameli of Earthjustice, who says Roberts' view of Congress' authority "does raise serious questions" about how he might view "the constitutionality of important protections under the ESA."

Environmentalists Uncertain on Roberts (Wall Street Journal, 08/15/05)
Wall St. Journal reports on environmental community's views on John Roberts: "Glenn Sugameli of Earthjustice, a partner in the environmental community's judicial-vetting project, says: 'No federal court has ever ruled that any federal wildlife protection is beyond Congress's Commerce Clause power. It is a position that, although he doesn't give his ultimate view, is troubling.'"

Critics: Roberts Sides With Industry Over Environment (Associated Press, 08/15/05)
Associated Press quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli that Roberts' view expressed in the California toad case "does raise serious questions" about how he might view "the constitutionality of important protections under the Endangered Species Act."

Circuit Court Review: Circuits split on wetlands control (National Law Journal, 08/15/05)
Quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Commerce Clause challenges to environmental safeguards.

Judge Roberts' Environmental Record Under Scrutiny  (Bush Greenwatch, 08/03/05)
Glenn Sugameli, head of Earthjustice's judicial nomination project, says "Roberts' opinion advanced a view of Congressional power that could threaten to undermine a wide swath of environmental protections, including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act."

'Hapless toad' case shows how court nominee thinks (San Francisco Chronicle [CA], 08/01/05)
Judge Roberts' opinion questioning Congress' constitutional authority to protect an endangered "hapless toad" "calls into serious question his views on the scope of the (Constitution's) commerce clause ... which might have serious implications for other environmental laws and health and worker protection, civil rights and consumer laws,'' said Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

Court Nominee pressed on views on 'Standing' environmental laws (Inside EPA, 07/29/05)
Article mentions Earthjustice's concerns towards Roberts's views on 'Standing'

Judging Roberts (Living on Earth, 07/29/05)
Public Radio International's Living On Earth interviews Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Supreme Court nominee Judge John Roberts' interpretation of the commerce clause and how it affects his decisions on environmental issues.

The Hate America, Hate-Roberts Left (FrontPage Magazine, 07/27/05)
Editor of right-wing magazine admits that "“Judging the Environment” campaign has already felled its share of victims, the most recent being William Myers, an attorney in the Department of Interior. Myers’s 2004 nomination to the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals failed owing in no small part to the relentless efforts of Earthjustice. "

Toad opinion hints at Roberts' stance (Miami Herald, 07/23/05)
Miami Herald report on Judge Roberts extensively quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

Judge John Roberts: Mystery Man?  (California Chronicle, 07/23/05)
Sher Zieve column: "Liberal environmentalists, such as Senior Legislative Counsel for Earthjustice Glenn Sugameli, were upset (if not incensed) with Judge Roberts’ ruling regarding the fate of the Arroyo Toad, as it pertained to the Federal Endangered Species Act."

Toadus Operandi: John G. Roberts' enviro record not so green (Grist, 07/22/05)
Article extensively quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on Roberts' views of Congress' constitutional authority under the Commerce Clause to protect the environment.

Supreme Court Nominee Facing Questions over Environmental Record (Inside EPA, 07/22/05)
Earthjustice's concern for the Roberts nomination cited in article.

Environmental groups study Roberts's rulings with concern  (Boston Globe, 07/21/05)
Boston Globe article quotes President of Earthjustice Buck Parker saying Roberts "may fail to uphold our key environmental safeguards as a Supreme Court justice".

Interest groups take sides on nomination (Indianapolis Star [IN], 07/21/05)
Earthjustice, a nonprofit public interest law firm aimed at protecting the environment, issued a statement noting its concern that Roberts might not uphold “key environmental safeguards” and urging senators to take their time in reviewing his qualifications.

Mulling Roberts' record, enviros hold their fire (Greenwire, 07/21/05)
Article quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on nomination of John Roberts to Supreme Court and on the impact that raising environmental issues and information can have on Senators.

Groups Gird For the Battle Over What Can Be Asked (New York Times, 07/20/05)
The New York Times quotes Earthjustice's executive director Buck Parker that Judge Roberts ''displayed a flippant attitude towards preventing the extinction of what he called "a hapless toad that, for reasons of its own, lives its entire life in California."

Bush picks John Roberts for Supreme Court (Greenwire, 07/20/05)
Article on Roberts's nomination to the Supreme Court quotes Earthjustice.

Environment Lawyers Uneasy Over Roberts' Supreme Court Nomination (Environment News Service, 07/19/05)
Article features extensive quotations from Earthjustice Executive Director Buck Parker.

High Court Pick to Face Scrutiny on Federal Role in Environmental Law (Inside EPA, 07/08/05)
Article cites Earthjustice and Community Rights Counsel's hope for a "moderate" Supreme Court nominee.

High Court Opening = High Stakes for the Environment (Living on Earth, 07/08/05)
Public Radio International's Living on Earth interviews Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on the void opened on the Supreme Court by Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement and its environmental ramifications.

Enviros dust off campaign playbook for Supreme Court nomination battle (Greenwire, 07/05/05)
Article on John Roberts's nomination to the Supreme Court quotes Earthjustice.

Long March of the Circuit Breakers (Congressional Quarterly, 07/02/05)
Shawn Zeller: "However cool the bill's sponsors are playing it, though, environmentalists say this fight is really all about ideology -- especially in a Congress now shot through with anti-judiciary sentiment. Advocates of the split are mainly determined to minimize the effect of "the decisions coming down from the current pool of judges," says Glenn Sugameli, the senior judicial counsel at Earthjustice. He also predicts that any smaller districts carved out of the 9th would soon become politicized in their own right, as the Republican Senate moves "to pack the courts with some extreme nominees with records of anti-environmental activism.""

Roberts and the toad: A Supreme Court story (Endangered Species & Wetlands Report, 07/01/05)
In-depth article extensively quotes Earthjustice and Community Rights Counsel on John Roberts' record.

Interest Group Reactions (Supreme Court Nomination Blog, 07/01/05)
Justice O'Connor's retires: initial reactions from Earthjustice and other groups likely to be active in nomination debate.

Court nominee (Idaho State Journal, 06/24/05)
Letter to the Editor by Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on the reasons behind William G. Myers' failed nomination to the Ninth Circuit.

FEDERAL JUDICIARY: Ensign to introduce bill to divide 9th Circuit (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 06/21/05)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli: "This effort is to get new circuits which have many more judges that are hostile to environmental safeguards."

Groups Say New Justice Will Stymie Environmental Protection (Chemical Week, 06/15/05)
Janice Rogers Brown's record raises concerns that she will be "legislating from the bench," says Earthjustice attorney James Cox. Brown's record "reveals she's a staunch, opening activist opponent of fundamental government safeguards," he says.

Pryor confirmed despite environmentalist warnings (Environment News Service, 06/10/05)
Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli analyzes Senate confirmation of William Pryor.

FEDERAL JUDICIARY: Votes on Pryor, other nominees suspend fight (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 06/10/05)
"Judicial nominees like William Pryor are phase two of the Bush administration's assault on federal environmental protections," said Earthjustice Senior Legislative Counsel Glenn Sugameli in a statement. "When they can't convince Congress to repeal clean air, clean water and other legal safeguards, they threaten to strike down or rewrite those laws from the bench by putting partisan ideologues like Pryor on our independent federal courts."

Senate Confirms Brown, Pryor to Appeals Courts (Environment News Service, 06/09/05)
Glenn Sugameli of Earthjustice: "Judicial nominees like William Pryor are phase two of the Bush Administration's assault on federal environmental protections. When they can't convince Congress to repeal clean air, clean water and other legal safeguards, they threaten to strike down or rewrite those laws from the bench by putting partisan ideologues like Pryor on our independent federal courts."

Senate Dems Still Willing and Able to Block Anti-Environmental nominees (E/The Environmental Magazine, 06/03/05)
Glenn Sugameli of Earthjustice: "The decision of moderate Senators to reach a compromise that allows them to step back from the brink of all-out partisan 'nuclear' warfare in the United States Senate is a victory for democracy, and for our nation's protections for clean air, clean water, and special natural places. The fact that William Myers will not be allowed to be confirmed shows how important environmental protections have become to the issue of maintaining fair and independent courts."

McKeague brings experience of already serving on federal bench (Associated Press, 05/28/05)
Earthjustice & other environmental are concerned McKeague would limit access to courts.

FEDERAL JUDICIARY: Senate approves Owen to 5th Circuit, eyes Myers for cloture vote (Environment & Energy (E & E) Daily, 05/26/05)
"Anti-environmental judges like Priscilla Owen are the price the American people have to pay when President Bush refuses to consult with the Senate in a spirit of bipartisanship," said Earthjustice attorney Glenn Sugameli.

Senators End Filibuster on Owen, 81-18 (Daily Journal [CA] , 05/25/05)
Article quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli on the "Gang of 14" Senators' deal: "The fact that [William] Myers will not be allowed to be confirmed shows how important environmental protections have become to the issue of maintaining fair and independent courts."

Senate Deal on Judges May Help Environment  (Bush Greenwatch, 05/25/05)
Analysis of deal to avoid "nuclear option" by Doug Kendall, executive director of Community Rights Counsel (CRC), who has "teamed with Earthjustice to lead "Judging the Environment," a campaign to highlight the environmental stakes in the battle over judicial nominations."

Good News: Filibuster Deal Means No Vote On William Myers (Monitor, 05/25/05)
"The decision of moderate senators to reach a compromise that allows them to step back from the brink of all-out partisan 'nuclear' warfare in the United States Senate is a victory for democracy, and for our nation's protections for clean air, clean water, and special natural places," said Glenn Sugameli, who heads the Judging the Environment project for the nonprofit law firm Earthjustice. "The fact that William Myers will not be allowed to be confirmed shows how important environmental protections have become to the issue of maintaining fair and independent courts," Sugameli said.... "Earthjustice will continue to strongly oppose the nominations of Pryor, Owen, and Brown, and urge the Senate to reject them," Sugameli said. "Based on their records, these nominees still do not deserve lifetime seats on the federal bench."

Bush's Anti- Environmental Judicial Nominees Not Off the Hook (Environment News Service, 05/25/05)
Article quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli and Community Rights Counsel's Doug Kendall on agreement by bipartisan coalition of 14 senators not to eliminate the right to filibuster controversial judicial nominees.

Clear Path for Some Nominees (Los Angeles Times, 05/24/05)
Myers, who was chosen for the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, [came] under attack for his record on environmental rather than social issues. Though he could have brought ideological balance to a liberal-leaning court, his nomination did not garner unquestioning support among Senate Republicans. A former mining industry lawyer and the top Interior Department lawyer from 2001 to 2003, he had been ardently opposed by nearly every prominent environmental group, including Earthjustice, the Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation.

Moderates and Senior Statespersons Create a possible third party (American Politics Today, 05/23/05)
The impact of the Gang of 14 compromise that preserved the right to filibuster judicial nominees is discussed.

Senators Reach Deal to Avert Showdown on Judicial Nominees (How Appealing, 05/23/05)
How Appealing blog: you can access online press releases entitled . . . "Earthjustice: Senate Compromise Preserves Independent Courts, Protects Environment; Anti-environmentalist Myers Remains Blocked."

GOP Might Not Have Votes to Block Filibuster (Daily Journal [CA] , 05/10/05)
Article on Judicial Filibuster/Nuclear Option quotes Earthjustice's Glenn Sugameli.

Maine Is Focus of Senate Battle on Filibuster (New York Times, 05/06/05)
Conservatives here have discovered a new patron saint this spring: Thomas Brackett Reed of Portland, a congressman from 1877 to 1889 who earned the nickname Czar Reed for helping abolish a type of filibuster practiced in the House.