Washington, DC – Twenty-one members of Congress, including the only Indian American Representative, Ami Bera (D-CA), sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid earlier today (May 22) supporting Sri Srinivasan’s nomination to the DC Circuit Court. The Senate is expected to vote on Srinivasan’s nomination tomorrow.
“Sri Srinivasan would be an outstanding judge for the Court of Appeals. He has worked in the US Solicitor General’s office three times – for both Republican and Democratic administrations – and argued 24 cases before the Supreme Court,” the letter reads. “As members of Congress, we value the importance of having diversity on the court. Representation of Indian Americans within our judicial system is overdue.”
After the Senate Judiciary Committee’s approval of Sri Srinvasan’s appointment on May 16, Congressman Bera said, “I’m so pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved Sri Srinivasan’s appointment to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. Now, I hope that Majority Leader Reid will swiftly bring the appointment to the Senate floor for a vote.”
Supporting the candidacy of Srinivasan, who is currently Principal US Deputy Solicitor General, Congressman Bera said, “Sri is widely regarded as one of the best legal minds in the country, and his breadth of experience makes him extremely well-qualified for the appointment to one of our country’s most important courts. His appointment would also be historic for the Indian American and Asian American community.”
Srinivasan, a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, has successfully worked for both Republican and Democratic administrations and has bipartisan support from the legal community. If confirmed, he would become the first Asian American on the DC Circuit and the first Indian American to serve as a federal circuit court judge.
Congressman Ami Bera, the only Indian American currently serving in Congress, is a strong proponent for strengthening the United States’ strategic and trading relationship with India and Asia. Bera is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and is working to open Asian markets to California products to create new jobs.
Srinivasan, whom President Obama nominated to serve as a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, was born in India and raised in Kansas. He has argued two dozen cases before the US Supreme Court. He would be the first South Asian American judge to serve on a US Appellate Court. The DC Circuit handles key appeals relating to environmental, labor and national security cases through its jurisdiction over federal rule making.