By Brooke Obie, Online Communications Director

We are in the midst of a judicial vacancy crisis in this country, causing a backlog of cases in our federal courts that fundamentally undermines America’s system of justice. There are more than 80 empty judicial seats in federal courtrooms across America, and Utah Senator Mike Lee has vowed to make sure that those seats stay empty. In order to “get the President’s attention,” Senator Lee says he will obstruct every one of President Obama’s judicial nominees. We can’t let that happen.

In a Huffington Post article yesterday, we called out Senator Lee, a so-called “constitutional conservative,” for his blatant disregard for his constitutional oath of office with these obstructionist tactics. Now, it’s time for Constitutional Progressives to do even more. We are asking all of our Utah Constitutional Progressives to send Senator Lee an email demanding that he end his obstruction of President Obama’s judicial nominees so that his constituents can get the access to justice they deserve.

Thirty-two federal judicial vacancies have been declared “judicial emergencies” by the U.S. courts, including one in Utah.  This means things are so bad in that district in Utah – and in other districts all over this nation – that the courts’ ability to handle their heavy workload has been severely threatened. This means justice is being delayed for the people of Utah and for other Americans because there aren’t enough judges to rule on all of the cases that are piling up. 

The partisan dysfunction in Washington is damaging our country.  Senator Lee has chosen to hold our courtrooms hostage and sacrifice our ability to receive timely access to justice through our court system in order to make a cheap political point.  Utah Constitutional Progressives: Send an email to Senator Lee telling him to end his petty obstruction of President Obama’s judicial nominees so our justice system can begin working for us again.