WASHINGTON (AP) — A dozen lawyers who served Democratic and Republican presidents are pushing for the confirmation of President Barack Obama’s nominee to the federal appeals court in Washington.

The letter signed by attorneys who have represented the federal government before the Supreme Court comes after Caitlin Halligan withdrew her nomination to the District of Columbia Circuit after being blocked by Republicans. That leaves Sri Srinivasan, (SREEN-i-vah-san) the principal deputy solicitor general, as the only nominee to fill one of four vacancies on the short-staffed circuit.