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For immediate release
May 6, 2015
DES MOINES - The League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa has called on Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley to move forward with the appointment of Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo for a vacancy on the federal Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
Joe Enriquez Henry, state director of LULAC of Iowa, met with a representative of Grassley’s staff on Tuesday in Des Moines along with other individuals. Enriquez Henry said the group was told their concerns would be passed up to Grassley.
Grassley, a Republican who heads the U. S. Judiciary Committee, has not held a hearing on Restrepo's appointment even though the judge has the support of the senators from his home state and was unanimously appointed to his current position as a U. S. District judge by the U.S. Senate. President Barack Obama nominated Restrepo for the position more than six months ago.
“This vacancy is considered a judicial emergency, yet Sen. Grassley continues to take no action,” Enriquez Henry said. “Our court system needs to be adequately staffed, and our government has an opportunity to do that here with Judge Restrepo's appointment.
Today, the Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on pending judicial nominations. Restrepo is not on the list of nominees who are being considered.
“This is politics in play,” Enriquez Henry said. “Our senator needs to stop playing politics with our judicial branch and let this qualified individual have his chance before the committee.”
Founded in 1929, the League of United Latin American Citizens is the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. There are more than 1,000 local LULAC councils, which hold voter registration drives, provide awareness to residents about language and immigration issues, sponsor programs and advocate for Latinos.
For more information, contact Joe Enriquez Henry at 515.208.7312; or Melissa Walker at 515.681.7731 or media@iowalatinos.org, or visit www.lulaciowa.org.
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