    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [February 20, 2004]
    [Pages 247-248]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Recess Appointment of William H. Pryor, Jr., as a United States Court of Appeals Circuit
    Judge
    February 20, 2004

        Today I exercised my constitutional authority to appoint William H.
    Pryor, Jr., to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the
    Eleventh Circuit. Bill Pryor has served as the attorney general of
    Alabama since 1997 and has had a distinguished career as a public
    servant and practicing attorney. His impressive record demonstrates his
    devotion to the rule of law and to treating all people equally under the
    law. He has received widespread bipartisan support from those who know
    him and know his record. I am proud to name this leading American lawyer
    to the appellate bench.
        Attorney General Pryor was nominated more than 10 months ago but
    still has not received an up-or-down vote in the Senate. A bipartisan
    majority of Senators supports his confirmation. If Attorney General
    Pryor were given a vote on the floor of the Senate, he would be
    confirmed. But a minority of Democratic Senators has been using
    unprecedented obstructionist tactics to prevent him and other qualified
    nominees from receiving up-or-down votes. Their tactics are inconsistent
    with the Senate's constitutional responsibility and are hurting our
    judicial system.
        As a result of today's recess appointment, Attorney General Pryor
    will fill a seat on the Eleventh Circuit that has been designated a
    judicial emergency. He will perform a valuable service on a court that
    needs more judges to do its work with the efficiency the American people
    deserve and

    [[Page 248]]

    expect. Again I call on those in the Senate who are playing politics
    with the American judicial system to stop so that my nominees receive
    the up-or-down votes they deserve.