    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [May 6, 2000]
    [Pages 857-858]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Opposition to the Nomination of Enrique Moreno
    May 6, 2000

        Senators Gramm and Hutchison announced yesterday that they opposed the confirmation
    of Enrique Moreno, my nominee for a Texas vacancy on the United States
    Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Their claim that he lacks the
    necessary experience to serve on the fifth circuit is unconscionable.
    The American Bar Association, which has rated judicial nominees for
    Republican and Democratic Presidents since the Eisenhower
    administration, unanimously gave Moreno their highest rating. The son of
    Mexican-American immigrants and a graduate of Harvard Law School, Moreno
    was rated one of the top three trial attorneys in El Paso by State
    judges.
        In rejecting Moreno's candidacy, the Texas
    Senators have ignored the strong
    endorsement of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the
    Hispanic National Bar Association, and local law enforcement officials.
    This is not the first time that the Texas Senators have rejected an
    exceptional Hispanic candidate for this seat, which has been vacant for
    more than 3 years. Jorge Rangel was forced to
    withdraw after the Texas Senators refused to allow action on his
    nomination. By blocking qualified judicial

    [[Page 858]]

    nominees, Gramm and Hutchison have exacerbated the vacancy crisis on the
    fifth circuit. Their unjustifiable opposition to Enrique Moreno--an
    exceptionally well-qualified Hispanic judicial nominee--must not be
    allowed to stand.