Trade group asks for techie justice

“As technology rapidly changes, someone who understands the tech economy and how technology works would be very valuable in determining how to uphold the intentions of our founding fathers while embracing the innovation of our sons and daughters,” said CCIA President Ed Black in a letter to the White House.

Black also pointed out that many of the laws considered by lower courts were drafted years before cell phones, laptops, cloud computing and the Internet’s interconnected business models.

“A technologically savvy Supreme Court can resolve divisions among federal courts that cause uncertainty and slow innovation,” he said.

Lofgren, CCIA says, understands the intersection of law and technology and tries to expand access to opportunities through the Internet. Black says she’s also acted as a watchdog for consumer privacy rights.

Lofgren’s office declined to comment.

The scramble to replace Justice John Paul Stevens will all-consuming for the Senate, likely holding up many bills waiting for action. Cybersecurity, patent reform and spectrum inventory legislation are among the issues that will be further pushed back as lawmakers turn their attention to the nomination process.