[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 19 (Monday, May 15, 2000)]
[Page 1026]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Opposition in the Senate to the Nomination of Enrique 
Moreno

May 6, 2000

    Senators Gramm and Hutchison announced yesterday that they opposed 
the confirmation of Enrique Moreno, my nominee for a Texas vacancy on 
the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Their claim 
that he lacks the necessary experience to serve on the fifth circuit is 
unconscionable. The American Bar Association, which has rated judicial 
nominees for Republican and Democratic Presidents since the Eisenhower 
administration, unanimously gave Moreno their highest rating. The son of 
Mexican-American immigrants and a graduate of Harvard Law School, Moreno 
was rated one of the top three trial attorneys in El Paso by State 
judges.
    In rejecting Moreno's candidacy, the Texas Senators have ignored the 
strong endorsement of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 
the Hispanic National Bar Association, and local law enforcement 
officials. This is not the first time that the Texas Senators have 
rejected an exceptional Hispanic candidate for this seat, which has been 
vacant for more than 3 years. Jorge Rangel was forced to withdraw after 
the Texas Senators refused to allow action on his nomination. By 
blocking qualified judicial nominees, Gramm and Hutchison have 
exacerbated the vacancy crisis on the fifth circuit. Their unjustifiable 
opposition to Enrique Moreno--an exceptionally well-qualified Hispanic 
judicial nominee--must not be allowed to stand.