UC Berkeley law professor Goodwin Liu is confirmed to the California Supreme
UC Berkeley law professor Goodwin Liu is confirmed to the California Supreme Court. Liu’s nomination to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was previously derailed in the U.S. Senate.
After a protracted and ultimately losing battle for a seat on a federal appeals court, UC Berkeley law professor Goodwin Liu sailed through his state confirmation hearing Wednesday to join the California Supreme Court.
During a 70-minute hearing, witness after witness lavished praise on Liu, a constitutional scholar whose nomination to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was derailed earlier this year by Republicans in the U.S. Senate. The state Commission on Judicial Appointments confirmed him unanimously.
Gov. Jerry Brown nominated Liu, 40, to the state high court last month, only a few months after Liu withdrew his battered federal nomination. He succeeds Justice Carlos Moreno, who retired Feb. 28. Liu will be the only Democratic appointee on the moderately conservative court and will face voters during the next gubernatorial election.