[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 10 (Monday, March 13, 2000)]
[Page 511]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Senate Action on Judicial Nominations

March 9, 2000

    Today the Senate finally confirmed, after 4 years, Judge Richard 
Paez and, after 2 years, Marsha Berzon to the United States Court of 
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
    Both of these candidates bring extraordinary experience and 
diversity to the bench, both received the American Bar Association's 
highest rating, both were approved by solid bipartisan majorities today, 
but unfortunately both were forced to wait far too long to receive 
votes.
    This week the Senate also confirmed Judge Julio Fuentes of New 
Jersey, who becomes the first Hispanic to serve on the Third Circuit. 
Judge Fuentes had to wait a year for his vote, but when it finally came, 
he was approved unanimously by a vote of 93 to 0.
    I want to thank the Senate for moving this process forward. But I 
want to repeat that dozens of qualified judicial nominees still await 
confirmation. Meanwhile, caseloads rise and backlogs mount. These fine 
Americans have offered themselves to serve our country--and they are 
entitled to an up or down vote. Election year politics should not be 
used as an excuse to slow down the confirmation process.
    This is a good day for our country. But we must keep going. It's 
what our nominees deserve and what justice demands.