On the recordMarch 7, 2011
Today we continue in our efforts to lessen the burden our overworked courts currently face. We are about to confirm three more judicial nominees. Two of the three nominees we will vote on tonight are for seats designated as judicial emergencies. With our action today, in only 22 days the Senate has been in session, the Senate has confirmed 10 nominees. With these votes tonight, we will have confirmed 19 percent of President Obama's judicial nominees submitted in this Congress. This pace far exceeds the progress made at this point in the 108th Congress, which was the beginning of the third year of President Bush's Presidency. At this point, the 108th Congress had confirmed only 4 of the 48 nominations sent to the Senate, about an 8 percent confirmation rate. Our fast pace on the floor is matched by our rapid pace in committee. We held our third nominations hearing this past Wednesday. We have now heard from 13 judicial nominees and have reported 16 favorably. Our work in committee and on the floor indicates a cooperative effort between me, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee and our leadership. It is an indication of the progress that can be made when the President nominates consensus nominees. We will continue in our efforts, but again, I would remind everyone that while we in the Senate are doing our part, the administration must also be engaged in this process. I would note that 24 of the 41 vacant seats deemed to be judicial emergencies have no nominee.
