[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 16969]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           APPROVAL OF JUDGES

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I can remember a famed lawyer named Melvin 
Belli who came to Las Vegas to try a case. The law at the time was you 
had to associate with a local attorney. Belli was very articulate and 
was so good at speaking to the court and the jury. When he finished, 
the Las Vegas lawyer stood and said, well, what he meant to say. This 
same lawyer said: When in doubt, wave your arms, scream and shout.
  I think that is what we heard today on the Senate floor.
  But what is really present in the Senate is the fact that we have 
approved 199 judges. We have turned down 6. There are crocodile tears 
that really are not necessary.
  In this situation, if we followed the Republican rule established by 
the Thurmond rule, there would be no judges approved during the month 
of July. But we have indicated that we would be willing to approve 
judges during the month of July, and we have done that. I have spoken 
to a number of Republican Senators who indicated we would do that. The 
situation involving these three involve not only substance but 
procedure--199 to 6. That is the rule.
  On behalf of Senator Daschle, I ask unanimous consent Senator 
Landrieu be recognized for 10 minutes and Senator Schumer be recognized 
for 15 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Louisiana is recognized.

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