Jack Reed: “Once again, we are engaged in the early hours of the morning in a discussion about judges and the role of the Senate…”

“Once again, we are engaged in the early hours of the morning in a discussion about judges and the role of the Senate, and our role is stark. We have the responsibility under the U.S. Constitution to give advice and consent to the nominations of the President of the United States, not advice and approval, not just advice, but advice and consent. That requires the Senate to take a very active role in reviewing the qualifications of nominees who come before us and making judgments about their ability to serve as members of the Federal judiciary. We take that seriously. I think that responsibility implies that at times we have to disagree with the President. It is not unusual that such disagreements take place. This whole debate, I believe, might begin and end with a very simple statement of fact, 168 to 4. One hundred sixty-eight of President Bush's nominees have been reviewed by this Senate and have been confirmed. Four have not. It suggests to me that the Senate is properly discharging its responsibilities to advise and consent with respect to the nominees of the President to the Federal judiciary.”