Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Chingyu Wang-Talk Radio News Service

Republicans strongly challenged the record of Goodwin Liu, an Obama nominee for the 9th Circut Court of Appeals, Friday during the UC Berkley professor’s appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"The nominee has not been in court and tried cases. He's never tried a case, never argued a case on appeal. Therefore, [Liu] lacks the normal experience we look for,” Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), the committee’s top Republican, argued.

Sessions also expressed dissatisfaction with a statement the nominee had made in regard to the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito.

"Judge Alito's record envisions an America where police may shoot and kill an unarmed boy to stop him from running away with a stolen purse, where federal agents may point guns at ordinary citizens during a raid, even after no sign of resistance, where the FBI may install a camera where you sleep... where a black man may be sentenced to death by an all-white jury for killing a white man,” Sessions read, quoting Liu.

Commented Sessions, “I do think that's unfair."

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) echoed Sessions’ sentiments, and claimed the comments were "vicious and emotionally and racially charged."

In addition, Sessions took Liu to task for failing to list a number of speaking engagements in a questionnaire requested by the Committee.

"I submitted all these items to the committee in the interest of providing the fullest possible information for your consideration," Liu said in response. "I am sorry that the list is long, and I am sorry that I missed things the first time."