CAPAC Praises Nomination of Sri Srinivasan to U.S. Court of Appeals for DC Circuit
Washington, DC – Today, President Obama nominated Srikanth “Sri” Srinivasan to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. If confirmed, Srinivasan will be the first Asian American in history to serve on the D.C. Circuit, and the first South Asian American to ever serve as a federal appellate court judge. Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-32), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15), CAPAC Chair Emeritus, released the following statements:
Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-32), CAPAC Chair: “President Obama has already broken barriers by more than doubling the number of Asian Americans on the federal bench, including the only two Asian American judges currently serving at the appellate court level. Today, he added to this historic accomplishment by nominating U.S. Principal Deputy Solicitor General Sri Srinivasan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. circuit, one of the most important courts in the country. Mr. Srinivasan is exceptionally well qualified and a trailblazer as the first South Asian American to ever be nominated for a federal appellate court. I commend the President for his commitment to putting forth highly qualified and diverse judicial nominees, and I urge my Senate colleagues to move forward with Mr. Srinivasan’s confirmation process.”
Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15), CAPAC Chair Emeritus: “I applaud President Obama’s nomination of an exemplary public servant, Srikanth ‘Sri’ Srinivasan, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit—also known as the nation’s second most powerful court. This nominee exemplifies the Obama Administration’s commitment to a highly qualified bench, as well as the President’s commitment to diversity that truly reflects America. As Chair Emeritus, I thank President Obama for his leadership with this nomination. I now urge the Senate to act swiftly in confirming this nominee to ensure a more diverse Asian American Pacific Islander representation in all branches of government.”
Srikanth Srinivasan was born in Chandigarh, India, and immigrated to the United States with his parents and two younger sisters as a child. He grew up in Lawrence, Kansas, before attending Stanford University for both undergraduate and graduate schools, earning a B.A. in human biology, an M.B.A., and a J.D. After graduating, he clerked for Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, served as a Bristow Fellow at the Office of the Solicitor General, and clerked for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court. His career has included experience in private practice at the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers and public service at the Solicitor General’s Office.
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The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.