Jeremiah Smith: “I believe there were some 66 nominations brought through during the Bush years. This is not about the number of people.…”

“I believe there were some 66 nominations brought through during the Bush years. This is not about the number of people. I think it is a fairly reasonable assessment to say if those nominations came through in 1992 or from 1989 through the end of the term in 1993, it is likely they were not very controversial. There was no debate, really. They were pretty much unanimously agreed to. We are talking about two issues: One is the controversial nature of the judges involved; two, the controversial nature of the Ninth Circuit. Both the Ninth Circuit and the judges are in and of themselves controversial. In the case of the one vote the Democrats in 1992 brought forth, although it did win, it was a controversial nomination. I think Judge Paez, with all due respect, and Judge Berzon, are controversial nominations. Clearly, the Ninth Circuit is controversial. I have agreed with the majority leader; if he chooses to accept, I have indicated I am willing to limit the debate on Thursday to about 5 hours total time on our side to discuss these nominations.”