Arlen Specter: “I renew my request that we be able to move to a situation where we will avoid blocking judges, where we will proceed on…”

“I renew my request that we be able to move to a situation where we will avoid blocking judges, where we will proceed on up-and-down votes and we will not seek to hold vacancies in judicial nomination situations where there are judicial emergencies--for example, in the Fourth Circuit with the nomination of Judge Conrad pending from North Carolina--and that we will move ahead with the nomination of others who have been waiting for very long periods of time. Today, the Judiciary Committee took up a report by the Inspector General, in which he noted that there had been political considerations in hiring at the Department of Justice. The report singled out Peter Keisler, who had been acting Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Division, and commended him for calling the inappropriate conduct for what it was. I mention Peter Keisler because he is so well qualified for the DC Circuit vacancy to which he has been nominated.”