Prof. Margaret Russell Appointed to Sen. Boxer’s Judicial Advisory Committee
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today announced that she has established her judicial advisory committees that will be responsible for making recommendations to her for the positions of U.S. District Court Judge, U.S. Attorney, and U.S. Marshal. After consideration of their recommendations, Senator Boxer will forward her choices to the Administration.
Included among Sen. Boxer’s appointments is EJS board member Prof. Margaret Russell, who will sit on the Northern District committee.
“These committee members will ensure that my recommendations for judges, U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Marshals will be highly qualified and worthy of the enormous trust that Californians will place in them,” said Senator Boxer.
Senator Boxer has established judicial advisory committees in each of California’s four federal districts:
Civil Rights Groups Ask California Supreme Court to Stop Prop. 8
Civil rights groups on Nov. 14 filed a petition (PDF) with the California Supreme Court to stop the enactment of Proposition 8 because it would mandate discrimination against a minority group and did not follow the process required for fundamental revisions to the California Constitution.
In the petition, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Equal Justice Society, California NAACP and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. argue that in order to protect the fundamental rights of all Californians, a higher standard is required to overturn the right to marry. Minority communities cannot be stripped of their fundamental rights by a simple majority vote.
“We would be making a grave mistake to view Proposition 8 as just affecting the LGBT community,” said Eva Paterson, president of the Equal Justice Society. “If the Supreme Court allows Proposition 8 to take effect, it would represent a threat to the rights of people of color and all minorities.”
