NACA Statement on Biden Administration’s Slate of Judicial Nominees 

For immediate release:

NACA Statement on Biden Administration’s Slate of Judicial Nominees

Washington, DC —The following is a statement from Ira Rheingold, the Executive Director of the National Association of Consumer Advocates on the first set of judicial nominations put forth by the Biden Administration:

During the last four years, federal court seats have been filled with nominees that promise to make achieving justice enormously difficult for consumers and workers. While we are pleased that the Biden Administration has prioritized judicial nominations and has announced 11 demographically diverse nominees — more nominees and earlier than any modern president – we are disappointed that those nominees lack experience standing up for the rights of consumers and workers.

While many of the initial set of nominees have a legal history in criminal defense, not one of them has a background focused on suing corporations on behalf of consumers. Instead, they come from large corporate firms – many of whom have historically represented banks and predatory lenders – including WilmerHale, Kirkland & Ellis, Hogan Lovells, Goodwin Proctor, Zuckerman Spader, Morrison & Foerster, Faegre & Benson LLP.

While we recognize that this was just the first batch of judicial nominations, the White House’s stated commitment to creating a judiciary filled with those who represent “Americans in every walk of life” requires the nomination of qualified individuals who have fought for low-income consumers and workers. Only then can our federal courts be perceived and actually be an institution where all of our nation’s people can feel confident that true justice is available to all.

We have great admiration for the stated goals of the White House and stand ready to work with Senators and the White House to help identify suitable judicial candidates who have represented Americans in all walks of life and make President Biden’s important commitment a reality.

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