Update: Judicial Nominations

There's been an important step ahead on Capitol Hill with regard to judicial nominations.  After last week's battle in the Senate Judiciary Committee, the question was whether or not the Democrats would allow Catharina Haynes to have a vote on the Senate floor.
 
The movement came yesterday.  Following a daylong debate on judges, Judiciary Chairman Sen. Leahy finally asked that the Senate give unanimous consent to the nomination of Catharina Haynes to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, who cleared the Judiciary Committee last week. 
 
With yet another voice vote, Haynes and and federal district court nominees James Randal Hall, John Mendez, and Stanley Anderson were all approved and confirmed by the Senate. This is not an inconsequential victory.
 
With Haynes now confirmed, it will be more difficult for the Senate Judiciary Committee to put off taking up the nominations of Robert Conrad and Steve Matthews for seats on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit as well as Peter Keisler for a seat on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
 
So what's next on the judicial confirmation front?  On one hand, there's word from Chairman Sen. Leahy who has made public statements indicating that the Judiciary Committee will hold fewer hearings and markups for nominees.  On the other hand, Republican Senators have promised that if they needed to, they would begin holding up pieces of legislation until additional judicial nominations are considered.  And there are reports the one key piece of legislation - the patent reform bill - could be delayed - a measure that is sponsored by Sen. Leahy.
 
The issue of judicial nominations continues to get more attention in the Senate.  That is good.  And, we will continue to work on Capitol Hill to ensure that President Bush's nominees to the federal judiciary get fair treatement and receive up-or-down votes in the Senate.  We'll keep you posted on this most important issue.