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Graham Votes Against Liu Nomination

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today opposed the nomination of Goodwin Liu to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.  The vote was 12-7 to forward the nomination to the full Senate for consideration. 

Graham is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

“I am a big believer in the concept that elections do have consequences.  But I also believe a U.S. Senator has an obligation to ensure nominees to the Court of Appeals understand the difference between an elected official, whose job it is to write laws, and a judge, whose job it is to uphold them.   

“I am convinced that Professor Liu does not understand or appreciate this difference.  His writings are very disturbing.  Professor Liu consistently points to various constitutional clauses that he believes empower a judge to be the ‘righter’ of social wrongs.  

“My opposition to Professor Liu’s nomination is not a disagreement over judicial philosophy, as I expect this Administration to put forward judges with whom I disagree.  Instead, my opposition to Professor Liu is based on a deep-seated disagreement over the proper role of a judge in our democratic society.  

“In Professor Liu’s world, the Constitution places virtually no limits on the role of a judge to impose their opinion on almost every area of life.  This leads me to one conclusion – Professor Liu should be in elected politics, not in court as a judge.” 

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To see video of Senator Graham discussing his vote in the Judiciary Committe, click here.

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