Sen. Daniel Akaka, Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals judicial nominee Goodwin Liu, and Sen. Daniel Inouye pose in the U.S. Capitol. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Akaka's Office)

MEDIA RELEASE

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote Thursday, May 19 on a motion to proceed to the nomination of Goodwin Liu to the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

If confirmed, Liu would be the only Asian American among the active judges on the Ninth Circuit, which has jurisdiction over an area including Hawaii that is home to more than 40 percent of our nation’s Asian American population.

Hawaii Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka met Wednesday with Liu, as well as White House Counsel Bob Bauer, and Sens. Harry Reid, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer in Reid’s Capitol office.

“Goodwin Liu is an exceptionally qualified nominee and a shining example of the American dream,” Akaka said. “I have long been impressed by his academic and career achievements, and after meeting with him today I am thoroughly convinced that Goodwin Liu will be an outstanding judge for the Ninth Circuit. He is highly capable, intelligent, and he will help the court better reflect the broad population it serves. He has strong support in the Senate and he deserves an up-or-down vote.”