【時報訊】可望成為北加州地區首位亞裔聯邦地方法官的現任舊金山聯邦助理法官(Magistrate Judge)的華裔鄭一芳(Edward Chen)，獲歐巴馬總統提名，到下月8日將屆滿一年。眼看國會本屆會期即將結束，許多亞太裔擔心提名案再度流產。
57歲的鄭一芳曾於1985年到2001年服務於自由派的“美國公民自由聯盟”(ACLU)，使他在參院受到共和黨議員的阻撓，並於去年底會期結束時，將其提名案送回白宮。歐巴馬於今年初重新向參議院送出來他的提名案。
共和黨議員在參院阻撓各項同意提名過程，因此多項提名案都必須花長時間打破阻撓過程，並且須要參院100位議員中的60票，才能通過。
內華達州亞裔日前會晤參院多數黨領袖雷德(Harry Reid，內華達州)時，也向他表達了亞裔對鄭一芳案的重視。雷德回應指出，鄭一芳極為符合出任聯邦地方法官的資格，並將成為聯邦法院的有價值資產。
亞太裔希望雷德為鄭一芳提名案，在參院院會排上辯論及表決的議程，使其今年能夠更上層樓。
鄭一芳在加州Oakland出生長大。1975年獲得加州柏克萊大學學士，1979年獲得Boalt Hall法律學院法學學位，曾擔任美國地區法院助理法官、巡迴法官、律師等，2001年開始擔任聯邦助理法官。
2009年8月7日，奧巴馬總統提名鄭一芳擔任北加州地區聯邦地方法院法官。
有關支持鄭一芳之詳情及文件，請見時報本期英文版。
Support Judge Edward Chen's Nomination
Targeting: Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY) and Sen. Harry Reid (NV)Started by: Asian American Justice Center
Please help us ask the Senate leaders to give fair consideration before the August recess to the nomination of Judge Edward M. Chen, an outstanding jurist being considered for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
President Obama nominated Magistrate Judge Edward M. Chen to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in August 2009. Judge Chen has been waiting to be voted on by the full Senate longer than any other nominee this Congress despite broad support. With the upcoming August recess fast approaching, however, it's possible that Judge Chen might have to wait even longer for a vote.
Magistrate Judge Edward M. Chen has a reputation as a balanced, fair, and unbiased jurist based on his nine year record as a judge and enjoys broad support from the judiciary, the litigation bar and legal community, and law enforcement. Judge Chen was rated "Unanimously Well Qualified" by the American Bar Association.
Judge Chen would be the first Asian Pacific American Article III judge in the history of San Francisco. This is especially significant given that some of the most infamous cases affecting Asian Pacific Americans - including United States v. Korematsu, Yick Wo v. Hopkins, and Lau v. Nichols - were first decided by the federal district court in San Francisco. Further, the absence of an Asian Pacific American Article III judge in San Francisco is particularly shocking given that approximately 35% of the population in San Francisco is Asian Pacific American.
Petition Text
Support Judge Edward Chen's NominationTo the Honorable Harry Reid and Honorable Mitch McConnell:
I am writing to support Judge Edward Chen's nomination as a federal district court judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Judge Chen has waited almost one year for his nomination to be voted on by the Senate - longer than any other nominee. As his nomination nears its one-year anniversary, it is critical that his nomination be considered for a vote by the full Senate before it enters its August recess.
For nine years, Judge Chen has demonstrated that he has made the transition from zealous advocate to balanced, fair, and evenhanded jurist. As a U.S. magistrate judge, he has over 300 published opinions on a range of subjects, having only been overturned twice by the Court of Appeals. Judge Chen was also rated "Unanimously Well Qualified" by the American Bar Association, a thorough process that examined his record as a judge and attorney.
Judge Chen has mainstream values and a reputation as a balanced, fair, and unbiased jurist. Judge Chen has waited long enough. The Senate should vote on Judge Chen's nomination before the August recess.
Thank you for your consideration,
[Your name] |
