[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 11, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H3116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FILIBUSTER OF JUDICIAL NOMINEES ILL-SERVES AMERICA

  (Mr. CHABOT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, blocking confirmation of judges by a 
minority in the Senate ill-serves the American people.
  Filibustering judges is not part of the Constitution; it is not even 
part of the old Senate rules. The Constitution is clear on what is 
required of the Senate and its responsibility under the Advice and 
Consent Clause as it applies to judicial nominations: Majority support. 
Never has a nominee with clear majority support been denied an up-or-
down vote.
  Four vacancies continue to exist in the Sixth Circuit Court of 
Appeals where my district of Cincinnati is contained. One of those 
vacancies could have been filled by Judge Richard Griffin whose 
nomination has been pending for 145 days, 145 days. Judge Griffin has 
the support of his colleagues and individuals such as former President 
Gerald Ford. He has been rated by the American Bar Association as 
``well qualified,'' a rating that has historically secured a nominee's 
confirmation, but not anymore.
  If the Senate wants to amend the Constitution, it should do so as 
provided by our Founding Fathers, not by the threats of a minority to 
shut the place down if they do not get their way.

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