AP - Democrats defend liberal court nominee Goodwin Liu

California law professor Goodwin Liu, is sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, April 16, 2010, prior to testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on his nomination to be US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)


WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Senate hearing for federal appeals court nominee Goodwin Liu quickly erupted into partisan bickering Friday, in a likely test of President Barack Obama's ability to win confirmation for a liberal court pick.

Liu (Loo), a University of California, Berkeley law professor, promised the Judiciary Committee he would keep an open mind if confirmed to a San Francisco-based appeals court, despite his liberal views...

Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy. D-Vt., on Friday accused Republicans of applying a double standard in Liu's case. He said that in the past he had supported GOP-selected conservative, activist court nominees after they pledged they would be impartial on the bench.

"I hope they will give the same credence to professor Liu's assurances that he understands the proper role of a judge," Leahy said.

"I hope they will keep the same open mind kept by Democratic senators. ... I hope they will not apply a double-standard to this extraordinary nominee," he added.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_JUDGES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


I will have a detailed analysis of the hearing later tonight.



Previous posts

Progressives to rejoice, Obama nominates Goodwin Liu (Thu Feb-25-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7789498

Editorial: Liu is more than qualified to serve on appeals court (Mon Mar-01-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7816130

Fox News composes a hit piece on Obama nominee Goodwin Liu (Fri Mar-05-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7846137

Oakland Tribune: Obama judicial nominee already a target (Sat Mar-06-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7854860

9th Circuit candidate's career marked by rapid ascent, wide-ranging roles (Goodwin Liu) (Wed Mar-10-10)
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-goodwin-liu9-2010mar09,0,1301596.story

AP: Young appeals court nominee raises liberal hopes (Sun Mar-14-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7912313

Testimony of Professor Goodwin Liu on the Nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. January 10, 2006 (Tue Mar-16-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7925476&mesg_id=7925476

San Francisco Chronicle: Obama nominee Goodwin Liu an unassuming man (Tue Mar-16-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7929953

Senate Judiciary Committee schedules Goodwin Liu nomination hearing (Tue Mar-16-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7930102

WP: Law professor Goodwin Liu may be test case for Obama judicial picks (Mon Mar-22-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7985276

ABC: SCOTUS Battle Quietly Brews, Contentious Hearing for Lower Court Nominee to Foreshadow (Mon Mar-22-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7985782

Ring-wing response to video threatens Obama judicial nominee (Mon Mar-22-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7986200

Websites form to support the nomination of Goodwin Liu (Tue Mar-23-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7992722

LAT: Controversy Over Obama Judge, GOP "preparing to mount an assault" (Tue Mar-23-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8000730

Senate Judiciary postpones the Goodwin Liu hearing "due to Republican objection" (Wed Mar-24-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8010610

Senator Patrick Leahy Press Release: Republican Objections Now Stall Even Committee Progress (Thu Mar-25-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8012621

Thomas Goldstein: A Hearing to Define "Mainstream" Judicial Views (Thu Mar-25-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8012997

Goodwin Liu Hearing Rescheduled for April 16 (Sat Mar-27-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8028717

NYT: An Exceptional Nominee (Sun Mar-28-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x526591

Majority of D.A.s in state oppose Obama nominee (Wed Mar-31-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8055635

Senator Hatch: Goodwin liu "a controversial nominee" because his views "appear to be pretty liberal" (Wed Mar-31-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8056270

Stanford Daily: Liu ‘91 turned to service on Farm (Thu Apr-01-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8065314

Media Matters: Fox News falsely claims Liu says "reparations on the table" (Thu Apr-01-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8065447

BLT: Conservatives Aim at 9th Circuit Nominee's Questionnaire (Thu Apr-01-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8071363

The Nation: Liu confirmation "should be a no-brainer.” (Sat Apr-03-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8078827

Fox News: Goodwin Liu "Under Fire" (Sat Apr-03-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8079624

"Keeping Faith with the Constitution" by Goodwin Liu and Pamela Karlan available online (Sat Apr-03-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8079660

LA Times - Goodwin Liu: A good choice for 9th Circuit (Tue Apr-06-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x528400

AP: Republicans step up opposition to liberal nominee (Tue Apr-06-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8101317

Goodwin Liu's letter to Leahy on the addendum to his Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire (Wed Apr-07-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8101702

Senator Leahy: No Further Delay Of Liu Confirmation Hearing (request denied) (Thu Apr-08-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8108680

Senator Session distorts Goodwin Liu's paper on welfare rights (Mon Apr-12-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8133092&mesg_id=8133092

Letter from Former Law Enforcement Officials Rejecting Death Penalty Attacks on Goodwin Liu (Thu Apr-15-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8151477

Republicans continue attempting to obstruct Goodwin Liu's hearing, with lavish hypocrisy (Thu Apr-15-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8157073

Letter from Chairman Patrick Leahy to Ranking Member Jeff Sessions, re: Liu nomination (Fri Apr-16-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8157332

I've always though that the liberal view was to keep an open mind.

nt

"Liu (Loo), a University of California, Berkeley law professor, promised the Judiciary Committee he would keep an open mind if confirmed to a San Francisco-based appeals court, despite his liberal views..."

Because, as I stated originally, the liberal view is to keep an open mind.

So how can anyone reject a liberal view and still remain open minded?