    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [May 1, 2003]
    [Page 409]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Senate Action To Block a Vote on the Nomination of
    Priscilla Owen Richman To Be a United States
    Court of Appeals Circuit Judge
    May 1, 2003

        Priscilla Owen is an extraordinarily well-qualified nominee to the
    U.S. Court of Appeals. She has served with distinction on the Texas
    Supreme Court since 1995 and has strong bipartisan support including
    from three former Democrat Texas Supreme Court Justices with whom she
    served. She was unanimously rated ``well-qualified'' by the American Bar
    Association.
        Justice Owen has been waiting nearly 2 years for an up-or-down vote
    in the United States Senate. The decision today by 44 Senators to
    filibuster and block a vote on her nomination is shameful. This
    obstructionist tactic is an injustice and unfair to this good woman and
    unfaithful to the Senate's own obligations.
        Senate Democrats are now simultaneously filibustering two well-
    qualified nominees to the U.S. Courts of Appeals. The Senate has a
    constitutional responsibility to exercise its advice and consent
    function and hold up-or-down votes on all judicial nominees within a
    reasonable time after nomination. Some Senate Democrats who once
    insisted that every appeals court nominee deserves a timely vote have
    now abandoned that responsibility in favor of partisan obstructionist
    tactics.
        In October of last year, I announced my plan for timely
    consideration of judicial nominees. Today I again call on the Senate to
    end the delays and to ensure that every judicial nominee receives an up-
    or-down vote, no matter who is President or which party controls the
    Senate. Let each Senator vote as he or she thinks best, but give the
    nominees a vote.