John Cornyn: “we are into the fifth month of the 110th Congress. Even before this Congress convened in January, observers were…”

“we are into the fifth month of the 110th Congress. Even before this Congress convened in January, observers were predicting that judicial nominations would be one of the most contentious issues that we face. But I think by taking a forward-looking approach, the Senate managed to avoid an unnecessary confrontation. I think, by and large, we have started off on the right foot. Earlier this year, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times both applauded the President for the difficult concessions he made in not choosing to renominate certain previous nominees who generated intense opposition. While I thought some of that opposition was mostly unfair and unwarranted, I respect the President's decision to extend an olive branch to the new Democratic majority in the Senate. Those two newspapers also encouraged the new Democratic majority to reciprocate with cooperation and fairness. In that spirit of cooperation, Senate Republicans received assurances earlier this year from the Democratic majority of a fair and reasonable pace for the confirmation of nominees to the U.S. courts of appeals.”