Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-02-22
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Senate confirms lesbian to federal judgeship
News posted Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011
by Lisa Keen, Keen News Service
2011-10-19

This article shared 5036 times since Wed Oct 19, 2011
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


The U.S. Senate voted Oct. 13 to confirm the nomination of lesbian attorney Alison Nathan to serve as a federal district court judge.

The roll call vote was 48-44, thus securing Nathan's appointment to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, in Manhattan.

Nathan's was one of three judicial nominations considered by the Senate Thursday and one of two "non-consensus nominees."

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., opposed Nathan's confirmation, saying she is too supportive of examining foreign law and not supportive enough of the death penalty. He said her willingness to review the values behind foreign law is Nathan's strategy for finding law to reach a result that U.S. law would not support.

"Her record," said Sessions, "evidences an activist viewpoint…. She has the real potential to be an activist judge."

During her confirmation hearing, Nathan said foreign law would have "no relevance to my interpretation of the U.S. Constitution." But she acknowledged that there is "an important debate" on "what role the Supreme Court's reference to foreign law is playing in the Court's decision…." She has also written that the three-drug protocol for implementing the death penalty inflicts "severe pain," violating the 8th Amendment's guarantee that the federal government will not inflict "cruel or unusual punishment."

Republican Senators Charles Grassley of Iowa and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma hinted strongly in July that they would likely oppose Nathan's confirmation on the floor of the Senate. Both cited what they saw as Nathan's lack of experience with litigation, and Coburn suggested she would been an "activist judge."

On the floor of the Senate Oct. 13, Coburn did not speak. However, Grassely, ranking minority member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, reiterated Republican criticism of Nathan, noting the American Bar Association suggests "at least 12 years' experience in the practice of law" and "substantial courtroom and trial experience" for judicial nominees.

Nathan "graduated only 11 years ago," said Grassley, and has been practicing law for only eight years.

The ABA standards also note that there is merit in "experience that is similar to in-court trial work—such as appearing before or serving on administrative agencies or arbitration boards, or teaching trial advocacy or other clinical law school courses…." This similar experience, say the ABA guidelines, "may compensate for a prospective nominee's lack of substantial courtroom experience."

However, Grassley said he had other concerns about Nathan, including her position on the 2nd Amendment ( right to "keep and bear arms" ) , the death penalty, the reference to foreign law in examining U.S. law, and what measures may be used in the war on terror.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., noted that, while the ABA's committee on judicial nominations did not vote unanimously that Nathan is well-qualified to serve as a federal judge, the majority did. And Nathan's rating, he said, "is equal to or better than the rating received by 33 of President Bush's confirmed judicial nominees."

Nathan is counselor to the New York state solicitor general and, prior to that, served as a special assistant to President Obama. Nathan clerked for now retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, as well as 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Betty Fletcher.

She is a former assistant professor of law at Fordham University, a former associate of the Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr law firm, and a former fellow at New York University Law School.

So far, the Senate has cleared two of President Obama's four openly gay judicial nominees. In addition to Nathan, the Senate has confirmed Paul Oetken, also to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Obama's most recent openly gay nominee, Michael Fitzpatrick, a nominee for the federal district court in Los Angeles, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Oct. 4. A committee vote on his nomination is expected in the coming weeks.

However, federal appeals court nominee Edward DuMont has still not received even a committee hearing. A committee staffer said Republicans are still "reviewing" his qualifications.

With her confirmation, Nathan becomes the third openly gay judge in that federal district—along with Deborah Batts and Oetken. She becomes the fourth openly gay federal judge in the country—along with Emily Hewitt of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Batts and Hewitt were both appointed by President Clinton.

�2011 by Keen News Service. All rights reserved.


This article shared 5036 times since Wed Oct 19, 2011
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Baldwin leads 22 colleagues in calling on FDA to end discriminatory blood donation policy
2023-03-24
--From a press release - WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has headed up a group of 22 colleagues in sending a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf expressing support for the agency's ...


Gay News

Iowa, Georgia ban medical treatment for trans minors
2023-03-24
Two more states have enacted laws that prohibit medical treatment for transgender minors. On March 22, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed two bills into law that affect transgender minors in the state, NBC News reported. Senate ...


Gay News

Illinois House passes legislation allowing gender-neutral multiple-occupancy restrooms
2023-03-24
--From a press release - CHICAGO — Advocates celebrated passage by the Illinois House of legislation that will reduce barriers for businesses serving their communities and customers by allowing for the adoption of gender-neutral multiple-occupancy ...


Gay News

Affinity renews Burning Bowl tradition
2023-03-23
On the afternoon of March 19, Affinity Community Services held Burning Bowl 2023 Renewal: And Still We Rise at the Pavilion at the Dan Ryan Woods. ...


Gay News

Center on Halsted to Honor Sen. Tammy Baldwin April 15, Human First Gala at The Geraghty
2023-03-23
--From a press release - CHICAGO — Center on Halsted is pleased to announce that its inaugural Trailblazer Award will be presented to Senator Tammy Baldwin at its annual Human First Gala being held the evening of Saturday, April 15, in ...


Gay News

Utah bans conversion therapy
2023-03-23
On March 22, Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill that bans licensed professionals from practicing conversion therapy—the discredited practice that attempts to turn LGBTQ+ people heterosexual—on minors, Q ...


Gay News

Uganda bans people from identifying as LGBTQ+
2023-03-22
On March 21, Uganda's parliament passed a law making it illegal to identify as LGBTQ+, Reuters reported. The development hands authorities broad powers to target LGBTQ+ Ugandans who already face legal discrimination and mob violence. In ...


Gay News

Navratilova says she is cancer-free
2023-03-21
Legendary tennis figure Martina Navratilova said she is now cancer-free—four months after announcing she had been diagnosed with throat and breast cancer, ESPN reported. "As far as they know I'm cancer-free," Navratilova told Piers Morgan for ...


Gay News

Kentucky lawmakers pass anti-trans youth bill; governor plans to veto measure
2023-03-20
In Kentucky, Republican lawmakers passed a bill that bans minors from receiving gender-affirming care, lets educators refuse to refer to trans students by their preferred pronouns and would not allow schools to discuss sexual orientation or ...


Gay News

WORLD German bishops, trans woman's death, Hungary, human-rights event
2023-03-18
Germany's Catholic bishops voted (38 to nine, with 11 abstentions) to adopt formal ceremonies for the blessing of same-sex relationships, defying the Vatican and testing church unity on what has become one of the most contentious ...


Gay News

HRC settles race-based lawsuit with former president
2023-03-16
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and its Black former president, Alphonso David, settled a lawsuit in which David had alleged racial discrimination in his firing, Reuters reported. In September 2021, David was fired after New York state ...


Gay News

Arkansas governor signs anti-trans medical malpractice bill
2023-03-15
Republican Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law a measure that makes it easier to sue providers of gender-affirming care for children, ABC News reported. This move, involving a law that will take effect this ...


Gay News

Protest held outside New Life Covenant Church over alleged anti-LGBTQ practices
2023-03-13
Now-former New Life Covenant Church parishioner Rosaly Andino, who is a lesbian, and her allies gathered across the street from the church in the Humboldt Park neighborhood March 12 to protest alleged anti-LGBTQ practices by Pastor David Marrero. ...


Gay News

WORLD Zero Discrimination Day, African countries, facility damaged, travel items
2023-03-10
On Zero Discrimination Day this year (March 1), under the theme "Save lives: Decriminalize," UNAIDS showed how the decriminalization of key populations and people living with HIV saves lives and helps advance the end of the ...


Gay News

Minn. governor signs order protecting gender-affirming healthcare
2023-03-10
At a time when so many political officials seem to be backing anti-LGBTQ+ measures, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is doing just the opposite. On March 8, Walz signed an executive order protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ ...


 




Copyright © 2023 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives. Single copies of back issues in print form are
available for $4 per issue, older than one month for $6 if available,
by check to the mailing address listed below.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.
All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transegender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS






Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.