    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [March 7, 2000]
    [Page 399]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Senate Action on Judicial Nominations
    March 7, 2000

        I am pleased that the United States Senate, by a vote of 93 to 0,
    has confirmed Julio Fuentes to be a judge on
    the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Judge Fuentes, whom I
    nominated one year ago tomorrow, is a richly experienced State court
    judge from Newark, New Jersey. He will be the first Hispanic judge to
    serve on the Third Circuit.
        Despite this positive step, however, the Senate still must act on
    the 38 judicial nominees currently awaiting hearings or floor votes. In
    particular, the Senate is poised to act this week on the nominations of
    Richard Paez and Marsha Berzon to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
    Paez, the first Mexican-American ever to serve as a Federal district
    court judge in Los Angeles, has awaited a vote for more than 4 years,
    longer than any judicial nominee in modern history. Berzon has been
    before the Senate for 2 years. Both are highly qualified individuals who
    will serve the courts and our country with distinction.