[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 58 (Thursday, May 9, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S4122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          JUDICIAL PROCEDURES

  Mr. SPECTER. Madam President, I thank the Senator from Nevada for 
working this out for morning business. I have sought recognition to 
comment about two matters.
  First, I compliment my colleague from Oklahoma for the comments he 
has made about the need to move ahead with nominees. It would be my 
hope that from the current disagreement we might work out a permanent 
protocol to solve the problem which exists when the White House is 
controlled by one party and the Senate by another party. The delays in 
taking up judges has been excessive.
  This is the 1-year anniversary where some nine circuit judges, well 
qualified, have not even had hearings. But in all candor, a similar 
problem existed when President Clinton, a Democrat, was in the White 
House and we Republicans controlled the Senate.
  I have advocated a protocol. Within a certain number of days after a 
nomination, the hearing would be held; within a certain number of 
additional days, there would be action by the Judiciary Committee on a 
vote; and within another specified time, there would be floor action, 
all of which could be expanded for cause. And an additional provision, 
not indispensable, is that if there were a strict party-line vote in 
committee, the matter would automatically go to the floor.
  I thank the Chair.
  I yield back the remainder of that time, and I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senator from 
Arizona is recognized.

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