Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I appreciate the words from the senior Senator from Colorado. His comments about the delays in the judicial process here, the selection of Federal judges, the nomination and confirmation, are identical to the situation for so many of the rest of us. Very qualified people are put forward. At times, the White House, perhaps, didn't move as fast as we would like. But the delays on these judges is pretty outrageous. Nomination of Benita Pearson Judge Pearson, who sits as a U.S. magistrate in the Northern District Court in Ohio, didn't have the same disruption in her life as soon-to- be, I hope, Justice Martinez had, having a law practice to put aside and having to wrap it up and figure out all that, but she has waited since February when Senator Leahy and his Judiciary Committee voted her out, had a wait of 9 months, almost 10 months, until we are about ready to confirm. I speak perhaps in criticism of the other party but, more importantly, how do we fix this so people are not dissuaded, discouraged from wanting to fill these very important jobs? When I interview potential judicial candidates, I always ask them: Are you willing to put your life on hold for at least a year before you can actually be confirmed and sworn in, if it gets to that? All are surprised, some are shocked, and some walk away and say: Find somebody else. That is going to start happening. So I thank the Senator from Colorado and his comments.…”