Political Quotes

“I seek recognition to speak to an issue which involves our Executive Calendar. Since November of last year, there have been two names pending on this calendar of judicial appointees for my home State of Illinois. One is Patrick Murphy, of Marion, IL, to be U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District. The other is Michael McCuskey, who is seeking the position of District Judge for the Central District of Illinois. It is unusual that these two nominees would have been on the calendar for such a long period of time, and the situation is aggravated by the fact that these vacancies are very serious, creating, in fact, what has been characterized as a judicial emergency. The Southern District of Illinois has the second oldest judicial vacancy in the Nation. The Southern District, for which Mr. Murphy is seeking this confirmation, has been without this Federal judge for 1,952 days. In the Central District of Illinois, it has been more than 1,000 days since that judgeship has been filled. In fact, the exact number is 1,255 days. There are four judgeships in the southern district, two vacant. Senator Carol Moseley-Braun and I have proposed Mr. Murphy and Judge David Herndon, of Alton, to be named to fill those spots. Mr. Murphy is the only candidate who has reached the calendar to this point, but we are hopeful that Judge Herndon will as well.”