Patrick Leahy: “with our votes on two more judicial nominees today, the Senate will have confirmed 60 judges in the 15 months that…”

“with our votes on two more judicial nominees today, the Senate will have confirmed 60 judges in the 15 months that Republicans have controlled the Senate majority. In 17 months, when the Democrats were in the majority, we confirmed 100 judges. So that means between those confirmed under Republican leadership--60--and the 100 under Democratic leadership, we now have confirmed 160 in less than 3 years. Incidentally, it approaches the 4-year total of President Reagan's first term. I have expedited confirmation of another Oklahoma nominee, as I accommodated Senator Nickles with four nominees when I was chairman, and I am happy to accommodate him now. I hope the leadership will look to the two much needed nominees for the Southern District of California. That is the most overworked district in the entire Nation. For some reason, the leadership has not brought them up. I wish they would. They should be considered on an expedited basis. Last night, the Senate unanimously confirmed Judge Carlos Bea of California to a lifetime position on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.”