Tom Harkin: “I just point out, J. Harvie Wilkinson is another judge in the Fourth Circuit. Again, he never had any courtroom…”

“I just point out, J. Harvie Wilkinson is another judge in the Fourth Circuit. Again, he never had any courtroom experience either. I am just pointing out, the Senator from Alabama yesterday, on the same TV show, said Bonnie Campbell was nominated too late. Nonsense. Gobbledy-gook. Bonnie Campbell was nominated on March 2 of this year. The four judicial nominees who were confirmed just last week were nominated after Bonnie Campbell. Why didn't Senator Sessions from Alabama stop them from going out of committee? They were nominated after Bonnie Campbell. Three of them were nominated, received their hearings, and were reported out of the committee during the same week in July. Bonnie Campbell had her hearing in May, and she has since been bottled up in committee. I keep pointing out, in 1992 President Bush nominated 14 circuit court judges. Nine had their hearing, nine were referred, and nine were confirmed--all in 1992. I guess it was not too late when the Republicans had the Presidency, but it is too late if there is a Democrat President. Here is the year: 2000. Seven circuit court judges have been nominated; two have had their hearing, one has been referred, and one has been confirmed--one out of seven. So who is playing politics around this place? The Senator from Alabama said the Judiciary Committee is holding hearings, just as they did in the past. In 1992, there were 15 judicial hearings; this year, there have been 8.”