Thomas Daschle: “I would like to discuss the nomination of James Leon Holmes to be a federal court judge in the district court of…”

“I would like to discuss the nomination of James Leon Holmes to be a federal court judge in the district court of Arkansas. Before I address Mr. Holmes' record and qualifications, however, I think it is important to remind my colleagues of where we are in confirming President Bush's judicial nominees and how the Senate's record stands in historical context. Thanks to bipartisan cooperation, the Senate has confirmed nearly 200 of President Bush's judicial nominees. This is more confirmations than in President Reagan's entire first term, President George H.W. Bush's presidency, or in President Clinton's last term. There are now only 27 vacant seats in the Federal courts, the lowest level of vacancies since the Reagan administration. In fact, more than 96 percent of Federal judicial seats are filled. With 28 judicial confirmations in this year alone, this Senate is well ahead of 1996, the last time a President was running for re-election, and when Republicans allowed not one single judge to be confirmed until July.”