Jeff Bingaman: “let me first say I think that is a very good question. The answer is, no, I would not vote to move forward with a vote…”

“let me first say I think that is a very good question. The answer is, no, I would not vote to move forward with a vote on Judge Owen because of the other problems that have surfaced with regard to her views and her judicial record. But I think as I approach this issue we have a threshold question. The threshold question is: Do the Senators from the State that is affected support these nominees? If they don't, the President shouldn't nominate them, and the Judiciary Committee should not report their nomination to the Senate floor. If they do support these nominees, there is still an obligation on each Member of the Senate to review the nominee and to determine whether in fact we believe that nominee should be confirmed for a Federal judgeship. That is the process we are going through. I would say I do not think just getting the support of the Senators from a particular State entitles a person to a lifetime appointment to the Federal bench, but I do think that absent the support and in the face of strong opposition from the Senators from the State that is affected, the Senate should not be considering the nominees under these circumstances.”