Democrats to Move Judicial Nominees as High Court Battle Looms

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April 13 (Bloomberg) -- Senate Democratic leaders say they will push the stalled confirmations of 22 federal judges before a possible summer battle over an as yet unnamed replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will “rev it up” to force confirmation votes in coming weeks and may keep the Senate in session on weekends if Republicans try to block action, said Senator Charles Schumer of New York, the No. 3 Democratic leader.

The average delay for President Barack Obama’s nominations to federal district and appellate courts is about four months from approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee until the full Senate acts, said Schumer and Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy. President George W. Bush’s judicial appointees often were considered by the full Senate about a week after the panel acted, they said.

“We’re all focused on the Supreme Court, but a well- functioning judiciary depends on the lower courts as well,” Schumer said at a news conference. “There’s no justification for holding these judges up, except gridlock.”

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-13/democrats-to-move-judicial-nominees-as-high-court-battle-looms.html


It;s about time.