    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [May 20, 2008]
    [Page 708]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Senate Confirmation of G. Steven Agee as United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit
    May 20, 2008

        Today Members of the Senate voted unanimously to confirm Justice
    Steven Agee to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the
    Fourth Circuit. I appreciate their work on his nomination. Justice Agee
    is a man of integrity who is respected for his sound legal judgment and
    commitment to equal justice for all Americans. His work on the Supreme
    Court of Virginia and the Virginia Court of Appeals demonstrates that
    his rulings are based on the letter of the law. I am confident that he
    will serve on the fourth circuit with the same level of dedication and
    professionalism.
        After I nominated Justice Agee on March 13, 2008, he received a
    hearing and a confirmation vote in less than 3 months. Unfortunately,
    many of my other judicial nominees have not received a timely
    confirmation process, and their nominations have been pending before the
    Senate Judiciary Committee for significantly longer.
        Since the beginning of the 110th Congress, the Senate has only
    confirmed eight circuit court nominees. In the last 2 years of the past
    3 administrations, the Senate has confirmed an average of 17 circuit
    court judges. I encourage the Senate to provide all judicial nominees
    with a swift and fair confirmation process.