[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7739]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Presidentt, I wish to first respond, if I might, to 
the comments Senator Kyl made in regard to consideration of judicial 
appointments.
  Of course, one of the most important responsibilities each one of us 
in the Senate has is to deal with confirmation of judges who have 
lifetime appointments to the Federal bench. It seems to me the 
Republicans are criticizing the Democratic leadership because sometimes 
they think we move too slowly, and now they are criticizing us for 
moving too fast on nominations. I don't quite understand it.
  I hope the public will look at the record. When President Clinton was 
President of the United States, when he left office, there were 32 
vacancies on the circuit courts of this Nation. Today, that number 
stands at 12. We have moved the confirmation process forward. I think 
we have done it in the appropriate manner.
  I would also point out that there have been three circuit court 
judges who have had some controversy surrounding their confirmations in 
which there was opposition by Democrats, but at no time did Democrats 
delay the consideration of those nominations on the floor. They came 
up, they were voted on, there was never a filibuster, and there was 
never an effort made to slow it down. In fact, on one judicial 
appointment that was voted for on this floor, it was the Republicans 
who asked for the delay so they could get the necessary votes to get 
the nomination out of committee. So I think the record speaks for 
itself as to the consideration of judicial appointments.

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