The White House formally withdrew its nominee, Caitlin Halligan, to fill one of four vacancies on the powerful D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals — a hotbed for future Supreme Court justices. She has been blocked by Republican filibusters for years.
After sending his withdrawal to the Senate, President Obama issued a statement railing against GOP filibusters.
Today, I accepted Caitlin Halligan’s request to withdraw as a nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. I am deeply disappointed that even after nearly two and a half years, a minority of Senators continued to block a simple up-or-down vote on her nomination. This unjustified filibuster obstructed the majority of Senators from expressing their support. I am confident that with Caitlin’s impressive qualifications and reputation, she would have served with distinction.
The D.C. Circuit is considered the Nation’s second-highest court, but it now has more vacancies than any other circuit court. This is unacceptable. I remain committed to filling these vacancies, to ensure equal and timely access to justice for all Americans.
