[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 20 (Monday, May 26, 2008)]
[Page 731]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.