Patrick Leahy: “last week I shared with the Senate several disappointing developments regarding judicial nominations: the Pickering…”

“last week I shared with the Senate several disappointing developments regarding judicial nominations: the Pickering recess appointment, the renomination of Claude Allen, and the pilfering of Democratic offices' computer files by Republican staff. In spite of all those affronts, Senate Democrats today cooperate in the confirmation of another nominee. We do so without the kinds of delays and obstruction that Republicans employed when President Clinton's judicial nominees were being obstructed and Republican Senators complained about his recess appointments as an affront to the Constitution and the Senate. The first nominations issue I would like to discuss is the recess appointment of Judge Pickering. Just a few days ago on January 16, President Bush made his most cynical and divisive appointment to date when he bypassed the Senate and unilaterally installed Charles Pickering to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. That appointment is without the consent of the Senate and is a particular affront to the many individuals and membership organizations representing African Americans in the Fifth Circuit who have strongly opposed this nomination. With respect to his extreme judicial nominations, President George W. Bush is the most divisive President in American history. Through these nominees, President Bush is dividing the American people and undermining the fairness and independence of the Federal judiciary on which all Americans depend.”