Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., with judicial nominee Goodwin Liu, and Sens. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., Daniel Inouye, D-Hi., Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Daniel Akaka, D-Hi. where Reid talked, Wednesday, May 18, 2011 in Washington. (ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO)

Hawaii's U.S. Sens. Daniel Akaka and U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye have met with liberal law professor Goodwin Liu in advance of a vote on his nomination to the California-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, whose jurisdiction includes Hawaii.

Akaka said he's supporting Liu as "a shining example of the American dream" that will help the court better reflect the population it serves.

Liu would become the only Asian-American among the court's 29 active judges.

Senate Democrats planned to try to end a Republican filibuster of Liu's nomination on Thursday, but they'll need several Republican supporters to reach the 60-vote supermajority needed to end delaying tactics.

If Liu's nomination fails, he'd become President Barack Obama's first judicial nominee defeated by the Senate.