[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
[March 6, 2003]
[Pages 243-244]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Senate Action To Block a Vote on the Nomination of Miguel 
A. Estrada To Be a United States Court of 
Appeals Circuit Judge
March 6, 2003

    Miguel Estrada is a well-qualified nominee to the U.S. Court of 
Appeals who has been waiting nearly 2 years for an up-or-down vote in 
the United States Senate. The decision today by 44 Senators to continue

[[Page 244]]

to filibuster and block a vote on this nomination is a disgrace.
    The Senate has a responsibility to exercise its constitutional 
advice and consent function and hold an up-or-down vote on a judicial 
nominee within a reasonable time. Some Senators who once insisted that 
every appeals court nominee deserves a timely vote have now abandoned 
that principle for partisan politics. Their tactics are an injustice and 
unfair to the good man I have nominated and unfaithful to the Senate's 
own obligations.
    These Senators are holding Miguel Estrada to a double standard. I 
will stand by Miguel Estrada's side until he is sworn in as a judge. I 
call on the Senate Democratic leadership to stop playing politics and 
permit a vote on Miguel Estrada's nomination. Let each Senator vote as 
he or she thinks best, but give the man a vote.