Jeff Bingaman: “In fact, when the name of someone is being considered for appointment to a Federal judgeship in my State of New Mexico…”

“In fact, when the name of someone is being considered for appointment to a Federal judgeship in my State of New Mexico, I have been getting calls. I get calls from lawyers who have worked with these individuals. I get calls from people who have tried cases against these individuals. Some of them, frankly, are favorable and some may not be as favorable. I get a great deal of feedback on these individuals who are being considered by us for nomination. And, of course, I have the ability, as a Senator from New Mexico, to call people whose opinions I respect and to say: You have spent your lifetime practicing law in the courts in New Mexico. What do you think about the qualifications and the temperament and the appropriateness of this person for this kind of a judicial position? Based on that kind of feedback, then I am in a position to advise the President, advise my colleagues, advise anyone in the Senate that, in my opinion, this person would be well qualified. I am sure that same process occurs with every Senator in every State, and it should. I think that is exactly what the Framers of the Constitution had in mind when they talked about advice and consent.”