LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Judge vacancies cause significant delays

Donna Red Wing, Des Moines
Letter to the Editor

Sen. Chuck Grassley continues to delay federal judicial nominations. Since he became chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the senator has only scheduled three hearings on these vital posts, despite glaring judicial emergencies.

District Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo has been nominated to fill a vacancy on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Restrepo is a respected veteran attorney and judge. Before his appointment to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, he served as a state and federal public defender, a civil rights attorney and a federal magistrate judge. He’s been endorsed by the Hispanic National Bar Association and rated “well qualified” by the American Bar Association. Only two years ago, Judge Restrepo was unanimously confirmed for his seat on the District Court by both the Judiciary Committee and the full Senate.

Despite Judge Restrepo’s impressive qualifications, his nomination to the Third Circuit has stalled for more than five months. While Judge Restrepo has waited for Grassley to schedule a hearing, the seat he will fill on the Third Circuit has become a “judicial emergency,” a designation given to courts where a vacancy is causing significant delays.

While Senator Grassley tarries, qualified candidates like Judge Restrepo are left in limbo, and everyday Americans have to wait to get their day in court. We ask that Senator Grassley immediately schedule a hearing for Judge Restrepo, and all the other judicial nominees languishing on his watch. Justice delayed is, as we know, justice denied.