[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 18, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H3440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            JUSTICE JANICE ROGERS BROWN DESERVES A FAIR VOTE

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, for over 200 years, judges 
have been confirmed by a simple majority vote.
  When President Clinton was in office, his nominees required only 51 
votes to be confirmed by the Senate. Unfortunately, Democrats have 
changed the rules and require today's nominees to receive an 
unprecedented 60-vote standard.
  Justice Janice Rogers Brown of California is one of the many highly 
qualified nominees who are being denied a fair up-and-down vote. 
Justice Brown is the first African American to serve on California's 
highest court and was retained with 76 percent of the vote statewide in 
her last election. However, Democrats are denying her the opportunity 
of a fair vote simply because she was nominated by President Bush.
  On Monday, Majority Leader Frist explained in USA Today why the 
Democratic obstructionism is harmful to the American people and the 
constitutional process. When our courthouses sit empty, Democrats 
should not be focused on partisan games.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops and we will never forget 
September 11.

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