[News-releases] NOW Encouraged by Estrada Withdrawal,Urges Senators to Filibuster Extremist Nominees

NOW Press Office
202-628-8669 Rebecca Farmer, x 116
202-785-8576 (fax) 

For Immediate Release
September 4, 2003

NOW Encouraged by Estrada Withdrawal, Urges Senators to Filibuster
Extremist Nominees

"Miguel Estrada did the right thing," said National Organization for Women
(NOW) President Kim Gandy after Estrada withdrew his name from nomination
for a plum spot on the federal appeals court. "NOW and other supporters of
a fair and independent judiciary applaud the senators who held strong in
their commitment to keep a bad nominee off the federal bench."

Estrada, a contender for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia was one of several controversial nominees put forward by George W.
Bush. Estrada has been compared to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a
vocal opponent of abortion rights, because of his extremist views, and both
Estrada and the Bush administration were criticized for refusing to release
information about Estrada's record while at the Justice Department.

"Through the filibuster, senators can ensure that a controversial
nomination does not go forward without the support of at least 60 of the
100 senators," said Gandy.  Earlier this year the Senate rejected (54 to
43) a sixth effort to move Estrada's nomination. "For a lifetime
appointment of such a controversial nominee to such a key court, 60 votes
is a reasonable
threshold--and we urge senators to hold every questionable nominee to this
standard.

"Democratic senators opposed to Estrada's nomination sustained a filibuster
against him for several months. This is a huge victory," Gandy said. "Two
years ago it was hard to find anyone in Washington who would touch the
f-word--filibuster. But as the Bush Administration continues its relentless
campaign to hijack the federal courts with right-wing nominees, the tide
has started to turn.  And because these senators stuck to their principles
and held the line, Estrada was forced to back down. This, in essence, is
democracy in action."

"We urge all senators who are committed to a fair judiciary to hold strong
in their determination to filibuster, thereby requiring any extremist
nominee to achieve at least 60 senate votes--a reasonable standard than any
mainstream nominee will easily meet," concluded Gandy.

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