These numbers can and should serve as a reminder that judicial nominations are extremely important. As Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell stated, “the judiciary may be the most important instrument for social, economic and political change.” Granted, he made that statement to the Chamber of Commerce, and they listened. Now it is time for the progressive community to heed his advice.

A president’s nominees to the federal bench are, in many ways, his longest-lasting legacy. Justice John Paul Stevens has sat on the bench for more than 30 years over the course of seven presidencies; Judge Manuel Real was nominated by President Johnson in 1966 and is still an active judge more than 40 years and nine presidencies later.

It is time for the progressive community to prioritize judges. We need judges who have a demonstrated commitment to equal justice, who favor workers’ rights and environmental protections, not those who always take the side of big business. Given that the decisions made by the men and women of the federal judiciary affect millions of Americans every day on issues ranging from civil and workers’ rights to environmental and consumer protections and a host of other topics, judicial nominations must remain a top priority.

Yesterday the Senate confirmed Gerard Lynch to the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals by a vote of 94-3. I want to believe that this vote is a sign that the Senate will now move to confirm more of President Obama’s qualified nominees. Yet, while this particular confirmation raised no real controversy, as evident from the 94-3 vote, Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said that while he backed Lynch, "We're seeing a pattern of nominees who believe they have the power to amend the Constitution."

We cannot allow Republican obstructionism to block the progress of President Obama’s judicial legacy. There are 20 vacancies on the regionally based federal appeals courts and another 73 for the lower district courts. As we move into the fall and winter of 2009, we must urge the White House and the Senate to nominate and confirm highly qualified nominees who will uphold our core constitutional values.

Alliance for Justice is a national association of over 85 organizations dedicated to advancing justice and democracy. For 30 years AFJ has been a leader in the fight for a more equitable society on behalf of a broad constituency of environmental, consumer, civil and women’s rights, children’s, senior citizens’ and other groups.