Tests loom for openly gay federal judge

The July 25 editorial “Homers: What's going right: Judicial First” explained that: “J. Paul Oetken, a graduate of Cedar Rapids Regis High School and the University of Iowa, was confirmed to a federal judgeship by the U.S. Senate. His achievement drew extra recognition because he is the first openly gay man to be confirmed to the federal bench.”

The real tests, however, loom.

Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans, including ranking member Chuck Grassley, will not say why they are blocking a hearing for Ed DuMont, whose April 2010 nomination was the first of an openly gay person to a U.S. appeals court. Meanwhile, a judicial vacancy crisis has been deepened by unexplained GOP refusals to allow floor votes on 25 nominees, nearly all of whom were unopposed in committee.

Glenn Sugameli

Staff Attorney

Judging the

Environment,

Defenders of

Wildlife

Washington D.C.