Political Quotes

“to follow up on some of the comments I made earlier about the DC Circuit, there have been accusations--and I guess everybody has their perspective--that seem to suggest that Republicans, for ideological reasons, won't fill these judgeships slots. I have voted for probably 90 percent of President Obama's judges-- well over 80, I know--and the Senate has had confirmed over 200 of President Obama's nominees. I earlier said 250--I think maybe it is over 200. Only two have been denied confirmation. So these three judges have been appointed to a circuit where the caseload has been falling, and it already, by far--by far--has the lowest caseload in the country based on the eight judges now active in that circuit. So adding three more judges would bring that caseload down substantially further and create an even more underemployed court, which we don't need to do, especially when we have courts around the country that do need more judges. We need more district judges than circuit judges, but there are some circuit judge slots that need to be filled. So I say that out of respect to my colleagues. But it was a cause for concern that the President and other supporters of his judicial vision have openly stated their goal for filling these slots is to advance their agenda. President Obama says: We are remaking the courts. Senator Schumer: Our strategy will be to nominate four more people for each of those vacancies. We will fill up the DC Circuit one way or the other.…”