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Campaign Unavailable We're sorry, this alert is no longer available. If you would like to learn more about ways you can take action, please visit Alliance for Justice.The short explanation of this alert was: The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on the nomination of Catharina Haynes to the Fifth Circuit when Congress returns from recess in April. At 45 years old, Judge Haynes is nominated to a lifetime appointment on what is essentially the court of last resort for Americans in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. A nominee for this position must have a record of excellence in the law, impeccable integrity, and a deep commitment to equal justice for all. Judge Haynes does not satisfy this standard. Judge Haynes served as a state trial court judge in Texas for eight years but has never written a judicial opinion. On her questionnaire, she explained that as a district court judge she did not write opinions but rather "wrote orders (a few with explanations), jury charges and findings of fact/conclusions of law." Higher courts have reversed her orders completely at least twelve times and partially reversed them on at least six occasions, but no opinions are available for these reversals. According to her questionnaire, Judge Haynes spent her entire legal career, other than her time on the bench, at a law firm. In her eleven years at the firm Baker Botts, she handled "primarily commercial/business and insurance cases for corporate and individual clients." President Bush's last controversial nominee to the Fifth Circuit (Jennifer Elrod), confirmed less than five months ago, came from this same law firm. Judge Haynes' record does not demonstrate the firm commitment to equal justice under law required of nominees to a powerful federal circuit court. It is crucial that you contact your senators now and urge them to reject the nomination of Catharina Haynes. Your senator needs to hear from you.
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