In 1972, Nussbaum represented Elizabeth Holtzman who, in a surprise victory, had defeated senior U.S. Representative Emanuel Celler, who at the time was chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, by a little over 600 votes in the Democratic primary election. Celler brought suit in a Brooklyn state court to set aside that victory. Nussbaum won that case, which was ultimately decided by the New York Court of Appeals, and Holtzman's election was upheld. As a result of that victory Peter Rodino, a senior congressman from New Jersey replaced Celler and became chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives which later successfully conducted the impeachment inquiry involving President Nixon.