On the recordFebruary 28, 2011
we are continuing in our cooperative effort to fill vacancies in the Federal judiciary that have been designated as judicial emergencies. Today, the Senate will confirm two more of President Obama's judicial nominees. I am pleased we are moving forward on consensus nominees who will lessen the burden on our overworked courts. My Republican colleagues and I continue to demonstrate our ability and desire to work with the President and the Democratic majority. We will have confirmed 7 judicial nominees in just 17 short days the Senate has been in session this Congress. We have reported out of committee a total of 15 judicial nominees, or 29 percent of the total nominees submitted. We have already held two hearings in committee on eight judicial nominees, with additional nominees scheduled for a hearing later this week. With this quick and productive pace, we have taken positive action on 55 percent of the judicial nominations sent to the committee this year. I continue to work with the chairman to ensure all nominees are afforded a fair but thorough process, in a timely manner. I have appreciated the chairman's courtesy as we work together to set schedules and agendas. It is imperative that the administration work with us, as well, to fill vacancies. I am particularly concerned about those seats designated as judicial emergencies.
