Asian/Americans react to President Obama's SCOTUS nominee (with Updates)

President Obama applauds Judge Merrick Garland, his nominee for the Supreme Court.

TODAY, President Obama named Merrick Garland as his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court to fill the seat made vacant when Justice Antonin Scalia passed away.

For the first time, an Asian/American was among the finalists for the United States' highest court. Judge Sri Srinivasan of the Washington D.C. Circuit Court was among the top considerations for SCOTUS.

RELATED: White House vetting an Asian American for SCOTUS

Obama's final choice, Judge Garland, is the Chief Judge of D.C. Circuit Court. 

During the vetting process, the AAPI community and its organizations lobbied for a nominee that an AAPI be selected. The White House even had a conference call meeting with leaders within that community to explain the vetting process. Shortly thereafter, it became known that Srinivasan was among the final candidates.

RELATED: More reactions at AsAm News

Following are some of the quick reactions from the AAPI community.

National Council of Asian Pacific Americans

National Director Christopher Kang

"The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans supports President Obama’s nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to serve as the next Justice on the United States Supreme Court. Chief Judge Garland’s qualifications and experience are unquestioned: his record as a judge for nearly two decades demonstrates that he understands the proper role of the court, and he also led the successful prosecutions of two major terrorism cases, “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski and the bombers of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

"It is clear why, just a few years ago, a senior Republican Senator said Chief Judge Garland would be a “consensus nominee” to the Supreme Court. The same is true today.

"NCAPA also would like to acknowledge that President Obama reportedly considered Judge Sri Srinivasan as a finalist for this Supreme Court nomination—the first time in history that an Asian American has reached the final round of consideration to serve on our nation’s highest court. This is a reflection of President Obama’s commitment to and success in furthering a judiciary that resembles the nation it serves, and in particular his tremendous strides in appointing more Asian American federal judges than all previous presidents in history combined.

"While we are disappointed that President Obama did not nominate an Asian American today, we stand behind his nominee and are confident that when future Supreme Court vacancies occur, Asian Americans will continue to receive this highest level of consideration and that there will soon be an Asian American Supreme Court Justice.

"Today, President Obama has fulfilled his constitutional responsibility. Now, United States Senators must do their job by meeting with Chief Judge Garland, conducting a hearing, and casting their votes."

Rep. Mike Honda, D-Silicon Valley
Lead Democrat on the House appropriations subcommittee concerning justice issues, issued a statement, following President Obama’s nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court:

“President Obama has taken a great deal of effort to ensure that the Supreme Court will add another extremely qualified legal scholar to the bench,” said Honda. “Chief Judge Merrick Garland has already been considered for a seat on the Supreme Court because of his long history of excellent work on the DC Circuit. The President has chosen a man with amazing credentials, a mastery of the law and a history of independent legal thought.

“This nation is built on a system of checks and balances: Executive, Legislative and the Courts. For us to be the best nation possible, we must have a full Supreme Court, ready to hear cases that will determine our future as a nation. Republican leadership in the Senate must adhere to a strict reading of the Constitution, advise the President on the nomination and vote on their consent to him/her joining the Court. It is time for us to put away politics and do our jobs. Americans should accept no less.”


Rep. Judy Chu, D, Pasadena
Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

“Nominating justices to the Supreme Court is one of the primary duties of the President. In naming Judge Merrick Garland, a seasoned jurist with a commendable record, President Obama has fulfilled that constitutional duty. Now it is time for the Senate to fulfill theirs. Refusing to even meet with a nominee, as Senate Republicans are doing, is an unprecedented level of partisan dysfunction. A well and fully functioning Court is essential for our entire judicial system. With important cases on critical issues like the President’s authority to set deportation priorities, access to abortion, and climate change still to be decided, we cannot afford to leave a seat vacant for another year.

“Unfortunately, from refusing hearings on his Supreme Court nominee or his budget priorities to filing lawsuits against the use of executive power, Congressional Republicans have made obstructing the actions of this Administration a priority. That is misguided and only serves to erode trust in government. I urge Senate Republicans to change course and hold a hearing on Judge Garland, his experience, his views, and his qualifications. Cooperation and dialogue, not obstruction and partisanship, are the only ways forward.”

Asian Americans Advancing Justice

Mee Moua, President and Executive Director

“Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC applauds President Obama for today announcing the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the United States Supreme Court.

"It is now incumbent on us – the American people – to urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold their hearings and cast their votes on the nomination of Judge Garland. We urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to exercise its constitutional responsibilities with due diligence and act upon Judge Garland’s nomination.”

Statement from the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund

"Chief Judge (Merrick) Garland is remarkably qualified to serve as the next Supreme Court Justice. ... While SALDEF called on President Obama to nominate the first Asian American Supreme Court Justice, we realize the profound statement Sri Srinivasan made as the first Asian American in history to make it to a President’s 'short list.' SALDEF wholeheartedly supports President Obama’s nomination of Chief Judge Garland, we are encouraged by the consideration of Judge Srinivasan, and we eagerly await the first Asian American Supreme Court Justice.

"SALDEF implores the United States Senate to fulfill their constitutional responsibility and swiftly hold hearings and confirm Merrick Garland as the next Supreme Court Justice. While Senate Republicans have a history of judicial obstruction—there are currently 77 vacancies for federal judgeships compared to 43 when the Republicans regained control of the Senate—it is out of line for Republicans to drag the Supreme Court into partisan politics.

"The Supreme Court is too critical to allow a long-term vacancy. The court has monumental cases on abortion, immigration, affirmative action, and voting rights this term—all issues that have significant consequences for Sikh Americans, Asian Americans, and the country as a whole. More than 60% of the nation believes that the Senate “should hold hearings” on the Supreme Court nominee—with a majority of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans agreeing on the issue.

"Without knowing the nominee, Senate Republicans took an obstructionist stance on the Supreme Court confirmation process. Merrick Garland not only deserves a Senate hearing, but he also deserves to be confirmed to the Supreme Court. SALDEF joins many national Asian American organizations in applauding President Obama for nominating Chief Judge Garland, and in calling for the Senate to fulfill their constitutional duty and swiftly hold hearings and confirm him as the next Supreme Court Justice."

UPDATED March 17, 2016

AAPI Victory Fund
Snekar Narashimhan, chairman and founder

“The AAPI community wants a seat at the table in every venue and truly believes the bench of qualified AAPI candidates deserve consideration for the very next vacancy.”

“Today, the Asian American and Pacific Islander community must come together and work to ensure the Senate holds a fair hearing and a timely vote on the president's nominee. Obstructionist senators must be held accountable for their actions. The Asian American and Pacific Islander community needs to be more of a political force moving forward, and the AAPI Victory Fund will continue to mobilize its presidential elections outreach in 6 states — Colorado, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia — to empower the more than 18 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in this country."

South Asian Bar Association of North America

“If confirmed, he will bring this experience from what is considered the second most important court in the U.S. and a reputation as a centrist to the Supreme Court,” adding: “Even as we congratulate Judge Garland, we are proud that one of our members is so highly regarded as to be considered a ‘likely candidate,’ and know that the depth and experience of our members will only continue to grow so that we stand ready next time the Supreme Court calls.”

White House vetting Asian American judge for SCOTUS post

When he was sworn in as judge in 2013, Sri Srinivasan, placed his hand on the Hindu holy book, the Bhagwad Gita, held by his mother Saroja Srinivasan.

ONE OF THE names being seriously considered to fill the vacant position on the U.S. Supreme Court is an Asian/American. Judge Sri Srinivasan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit -- a traditional launching pad for Supreme Court nominees, is being vetted, according to reports.

The friends and former colleagues of the 48-year old Indian/American judge are being interviewed, sources familiar with the vetting process told CNN today (March 5).

The news of Srinivasan making the short list for a seat on the Supreme Court came days after the White House talked with Asian/American leaders in an "off he record" phone conference March 3. Although no names were mentioned during the call, people had a chance to press that an Asian/American candidate be seriously considered for the open seat.

Tina Matsuoka, executive director of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association in Washington, said the call signaled the White House’s acknowledgement of excitement in the Asian-American community that the next Supreme Court justice could become the first Asian-American to sit on the high court.

RELATED: White House meets with AAPI leaders

Ever since the death of Justice Antonin Scalia last month, Asian/Americans, along with other interest groups, have been lobbying for President Obama to nominate a new justice quickly even though Republicans have vowed to block the nomination until 2017, when a new president will take office.

“We’ve been really excited that there’s a number of Asian-Americans who have been talked about in the mainstream press, and it’s really galvanized the community,” Matsuoka said.

Srinivasan isn’t the only Asian/American or immigrant who’s been talked up as a potential Obama nominee for the Court. There’s also Jacqueline Nguyen, an appeals court judge who once lived in a refugee camp with her Vietnamese family, and Goodwin Liu, a Taiwanese/American justice from Georgia on the California Supreme Court. Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, a Mexican immigrant who is also on the California Supreme Court, is another potential option. But of these, experts say, Srinivasan is the likeliest choice. 

Of course, there are many others being considered also besides Srinivasan. 

RELATED: Why not an Asian American on the Supreme Court?

Even though his father went to U.C. Berkeley, Srinivasan chose to get his undergrad degree across San Francisco Bay at Stanford, where he also got his law degree. He clerked with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner and worked for the Solicitor General under the Bush and Obama administrations. He joined a Washington D.C. law firm before President Barack Obama first nominated him in 2012 for the D.C. appeals court, the same court where Scalia served before ascending to SCOTUS.

The Senate confirmed him 97-0 in April, 2013. During the oonfirmantion hearings Sen. Ted Cruz noted that “we have been friends a long time.” Sen. Orrin Hatch, now the chamber’s most senior Republican, called him “terrific” and added “I do not believe judges should be filibustered.”

During the hearings, he parried questions regarding his positions on controversial issues by testifying that he doesn't let his personal opinions affect his judicial decisions. 

Srinivasan was born in Chandigarh, India in 1967 and moved with his family to Lawrence, Kansas a few months later. His late father was a math professor at Kansas University; where his mother also taught art history and computer science. His sister Srinija was the fifth employee to join Yahoo. 

There’s never been an Asian on SCOTUS. “It’s time for America to achieve that historic first,” said Jin Hwang, the president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, in an interview with Fusion.  “The reason why it’s important to have judges who look like the population is it instills more confidence in the justice system… People can feel more a part of society and not be considered a perpetual foreigner.”

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For more news about Asian/Americans & Pacific Islanders, read AsAm News.