NELA

Empowering Workers' Rights Attorneys

Judicial Nominations

Judicial Nominations

NELA Supports Nomination of Charlotte Sweeney to the United States Court of Federal Claims

Dear Chairman Durbin and Ranking Member Grassley:

On behalf of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), and its 4,000 circuit, state, and local affiliate members across the country, we write to express our strongest possible recommendation that Charlotte Sweeney be confirmed to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado— a court that, among other things, oversees federal action on workers’ rights.

NELA is the largest professional membership organization in the country comprised of lawyers who represent workers in labor, employment, and civil rights disputes. Founded in 1985, NELA advances employee rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. Our members litigate daily in every federal district and circuit, affording NELA a unique perspective on the profound impact of the judiciary on the daily lives and the rights of working people.

Ms. Sweeney has worked in private practice since 1995, and is highly regarded in the Colorado Bar. She is seen as a reasonable and fair lawyer by defense attorneys who have been her opposing counsel, as well as by workers’ rights attorneys. Additionally, Ms. Sweeney has extensive trial experience, sixty percent of which consists of litigation. She … Read More

NELA Strongly Support The Nomination Of Jennifer Sung To The U.S. Court of Appeals For The Ninth Circuit

Dear Chairman Durbin and Ranking Member Grassley:

On behalf of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), and its 4,000 circuit, state, and local affiliate members across the country, we write to express our strongest possible recommendation that Jennifer Sung be confirmed to serve as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit— a court that, among other things, oversees federal action on workers’ rights.

NELA is the largest professional membership organization in the country comprised of lawyers who represent workers in labor, employment, and civil rights disputes. Founded in 1985, NELA advances employee rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. Our members litigate daily in every federal district and circuit, affording NELA a unique perspective on the profound impact of the judiciary on the daily lives and the rights of working people.

Ms. Sung is eminently qualified to serve as a federal appellate judge. Ms. Sung is a labor lawyer with a background in workers’ rights and she is a former union organizer. First as a labor organizer, and then as an attorney, she spent nearly twenty years advocating for every-day working people from all walks of life, including … Read More

NELA Strongly Support The Nomination Of Myrna Pérez To The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Second Circuit

United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Dear Chairman Durbin, Ranking Member Grassley, and Committee Members:

On behalf of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), and its 4,000 circuit, state, and local affiliate members across the country, we write to express our organization’s strong support for the nomination of Myrna Pérez to serve as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

NELA is the largest professional membership organization in the country comprised of lawyers who represent workers in labor, employment, and civil rights disputes. Founded in 1985, NELA advances employee rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. Our members litigate daily in every federal district and circuit, affording NELA a unique perspective on how employment cases play out on the ground and an accurate understanding of the profound impact of the judiciary on the daily lives and the rights of working people.

The working people of our nation need and deserve judges who will protect the rights of all Americans and our democracy. The ballot box is a critical place where working people have a voice. Ms. Pérez has devoted her career to the principle at the … Read More

NELA Applauds First Slate Of President Biden’s Judicial Nominations

Today President Biden announced the nomination of 11 judges to serve on the Federal Circuit and District Courts, as well as the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) applauds the Administration’s commitment to nominating highly qualified judges who are fair-minded and come from diverse backgrounds. This slate of nominees includes four Black women, as well as four AAPI nominees. Several of these nominees have served as public defenders.  

This slate of nominees represents a critically important step toward long overdue diversity on the federal bench. Both common sense and research tell us that demographic and professional diversity on the bench are essential to ensure that workers have a fair shot at justice.

We call on the Senate to ensure swift confirmation of these nominees. And we will continue to urge the Biden Administration to bring to the Courts even more diversity—in all its forms—to be truly representative of our country’s working people.

President Biden Announces Intent to Nominate 11 Judicial Candidates… Read More

Letter To The Senate Judiciary Committee Opposing The Confirmation Of Amy Coney Barrett To The U.S. Supreme Court

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Submitted Via Email

The Honorable Lindsay Graham, Chair
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Dianne Feinstein, Ranking Member
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
152 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Graham and Ranking Member Feinstein:

On behalf of the 2,000 members of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), I write to express our strong opposition to the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court. Our additional 2,000 circuit, state, and local affiliate members across the country are also watching this confirmation process with concern.

At the outset, we must raise our strong objection to the blatant Republican double standard surrounding this confirmation process. There should be no disagreement that the confirmation process for a United States Supreme Court nominee should be advanced in an honest, fair, and principled manner. One should not need to write a letter to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary underscoring that the rules that have been applied to a confirmation process of a Supreme Court nominee nominated by a Democratic president should be the same rules applied to a confirmation … Read More

NELA Opposes The Confirmation Of SCOTUS Nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett

“Working people deserve better than Judge Barrett.”

NELA strongly opposes the appointment of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court. NELA, along with a sizable majority of Americans polled, believes that there should be no confirmation of the Court’s next Justice until after inauguration day in 2021. Early voting in the November election is underway; this important decision should be left to the next president and Senate, after the people have spoken.

A comprehensive review of Judge Barrett’s record makes it abundantly clear that she is a threat to the working people of this country and the civil rights protections for which so many have fought.

Judge Barrett’s decisions reflect an utter failure to grasp the realities of the workplace for regular, everyday working people. She sided with corporations and employers over working people in 83 percent of the employment-related cases reviewed.

These are just a few examples of Judge Barrett’s disregard for worker protections:

Barrett Upholds Racial Discrimination
Barrett authored the opinion in Terry Smith v. Illinois Department of Transportation, concluding that a Black employee who was called the “N” word in his workplace had not established that he faced a hostile work environment.
Barrett Upholds
… Read More

NELA Opposes Nomination Of Cory Wilson To The United States Court Of Appeals For The Fifth Circuit

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Via Email

Re: National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Opposes Nomination of Cory Wilson to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Dear Chair Graham, Ranking Member Feinstein, and Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

On behalf of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), and its 4,000 circuit, state, and local affiliate members across the country, we write to express our strong opposition to the confirmation of Mississipi state court judge Cory Wilson to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. NELA is the largest professional membership organization in the country comprised of lawyers who represent workers in labor, employment, and civil rights disputes. Founded in 1985, NELA advances employee rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. Our members represent plaintiffs in employment cases in every circuit, including the Fifth Circuit to which Judge Wilson has been nominated. Our members and the thousands of clients they represent afford NELA a unique perspective on how judicial decisions impact the daily lives and the rights of working people.

At the outset, we wish to register our dismay that at this time, the Senate is moving forward with consideration … Read More

Opposes Nomination Of Justin Walker To The United States Court Of Appeals For The DC Circuit

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Via Email

Re: National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Opposes Nomination of Justin Walker to the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit

Dear Chair Graham, Ranking Member Feinstein, and Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

On behalf of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), and its 4,000 circuit, state, and local affiliate members across the country, we write to express our strong opposition to the confirmation of Judge Justin Walker to the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. NELA is the largest professional membership organization in the country comprised of lawyers who represent workers in labor, employment, and civil rights disputes. Founded in 1985, NELA advances employee rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. Our members represent plaintiffs in employment cases in every circuit, including the DC Circuit to which Judge Walker has been nominated. Our members and the thousands of clients they represent afford NELA a unique perspective on how judicial decisions impact the daily lives and the rights of working people.

At the outset, we wish to register our dismay that at this time, the Senate is moving forward with consideration of Mr. … Read More

NELA Opposition To Cory Wilson Nomination

VIA EMAIL

Re: National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Opposes Nomination of Cory Wilson to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of MississippiDear Chair Graham, Ranking Member Feinstein and Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

On behalf of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), and its 4,000 circuit, state, and local affiliate members across the country, we write to express our strong opposition to the confirmation of Cory Wilson to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. NELA is the largest professional membership organization in the country comprised of lawyers who represent workers in labor, employment, and civil rights disputes. Founded in 1985, NELA advances employee rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. Our members represent plaintiffs in employment cases in every state, including Mississippi, where Judge Wilson has been nominated to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Our members and the thousands of clients they represent afford NELA a unique perspective on how judicial decisions impact the daily lives and the rights of working people.

NELA is is committed to doing everything possible to ensure that lifetime appointments to the … Read More

NELA Letter Opposing Nomination of Sarah Pitlyk to the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

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United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Re: National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Opposes Nomination of Sarah Pitlyk to the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

Dear Chairman Graham, Ranking Member Feinstein, and Committee Members,

On behalf of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), and its 4,000 circuit, state, and local affiliate members across the country, we write to express our strong opposition to the confirmation of Sarah Pitlyk to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.

NELA is the largest professional membership organization in the country comprised of lawyers who represent workers in labor, employment, and civil rights disputes. Founded in 1985, NELA advances employee rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. Our members litigate daily in every federal district and circuit, affording NELA a unique perspective on how employment cases actually play out on the ground and an accurate understanding of the profound impact of the judiciary on the daily lives and the rights of working people.

Ms. Pitlyk Is Not Qualified To Serve As A District Court Judge

Ms. Pitlyk lacks the … Read More

NELA Opposes Nomination Of Steven Menashi To U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

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Submitted Via Email

Re: National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Opposes Nomination of Steven Menashi to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Dear Senator:

On behalf of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), and its 4,000 circuit, state, and local affiliate members across the country, we write to express our strong opposition to the confirmation of Steven Menashi to the United States Circuit Court for the Second Circuit. NELA is the largest professional membership organization in the country comprised of lawyers who represent workers in labor, employment, and civil rights disputes. Founded in 1985, NELA advances employee rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. Our members litigate daily in every circuit, affording NELA a unique perspective on how employment cases actually play out on the ground and an accurate understanding of the profound impact of the judiciary on the daily lives and the rights of working people. This letter represents the views of NELA national. I have also attached for your consideration, a letter from our affiliate, NELA/NY.

Because of the profound effect of the federal judiciary on the lives of working people, NELA is invested in ensuring that … Read More

NELA Opposes Rao Nomination 2019

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Submitted Via Email
The Honorable Lindsey Graham, Chair
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Senator Dianne Feinstein, Ranking Member
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
152 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Re: NELA Opposes Nomination of Neomi Rao to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia

Dear Senators Graham and Feinstein and Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee,On behalf of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), and its 4,000 circuit, state, and local affiliate members across the country, we write to express our strong opposition to the confirmation of Neomi Rao to the United States Circuit Court for the District of Columbia Circuit.

NELA is the largest professional membership organization in the country comprised of lawyers who represent workers in labor, employment, and civil rights disputes. Founded in 1985, NELA advances employee rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. Our members litigate daily in every circuit, affording NELA a unique perspective on how employment cases actually play out on the ground and the profound impact of the judiciary on the daily lives and the rights of … Read More