Washington, DC – Congressman Al Green (TX-09), today, issued the following statement regarding the Senate Judiciary Committee’s approval of Leslie Southwick to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.  Southwick’s approval passed from the Senate Judiciary Committee by a one vote margin.  To be confirmed to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Southwick’s nomination must be confirmed by a vote of the full Senate.  

“We are disappointed but not defeated by the Senate Judiciary Committee’s approval of Southwick.  This is a multi-step process.  We will still work hard to urge the full Senate to reject this nomination when it comes before them for a vote.  It is my sincere hope that the Senators will see the moral issue at hand; will we in the year 2007 allow an appointment to the federal bench of an individual who has evidenced a willingness to condone overt bigotry? We have come too far in this country in the struggle for human equality to allow a lifelong appointment to the federal bench to become a lifelong mistake.”

“I urge the President to find a better candidate than Leslie Southwick, whose actions have shown him to be unworthy and insensitive.  To allow this nomination to be confirmed would condone and legitimize his obvious disregard for issues that confront minority communities.  Southwick made a decision in Richmond v. Mississippi Dept. of Human Services to uphold the reinstatement of a worker who referred to a co-worker as a ‘good-ole (N-word)’ after a hearing officer found that calling the employee ‘a good ole (N-word)’ was the equivalent of calling the employee a ‘teacher’s pet’.  Southwick also has a questionable history of allowing minorities to be removed from juries because of their race.  Those who serve on the bench must not only have a good judicial temperament and be well-versed in the law, they must also have a sound understanding of what constitutes invidious discrimination, as well as what constitutes a hostile work environment.”

“We have to assume that people may give us only one clue into their inner-most thinking.  We cannot avoid the clues given to us by Southwick in his Richmond v. Mississippi Dept. of Human Services ruling and his rulings on race discrimination in jury selection.  This ruling is indicative of Southwick’s willingness to condone overt bigotry and engage in covert discrimination.  We cannot ignore this evidence before us-- it must be examined before it is too late and a lifetime appointment is made.”

“The 5th Circuit is the federal circuit with the highest percentage of minorities, and although we may not have evidence on how he would view ALL minorities, the evidence we do have tells us this is not a person with an adequate understanding of minority issues.  It is essential, knowing what we know now, for the President to rethink and withdraw the nomination of Leslie Southwick to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals-- Southwick is not the only person available.  There are other candidates who are capable, competent, and qualified. If the President wishes to maintain a fair and balanced approach to the 5th circuit these other candidates must be considered. ”