Patrick Leahy: “with today's vote, the Senate will confirm the 12th judge to our Federal courts of appeals and our 61st judicial nominee…”

“with today's vote, the Senate will confirm the 12th judge to our Federal courts of appeals and our 61st judicial nominee since the change in Senate majority last summer. In little more than 1 year, the Senate Judiciary Committee has already voted on 75 of this President's judicial nominees, including 15 nominees to the courts of appeals. This is more circuit and district court nominees than in any of the previous 6 rac{1}{2} years of Republican control. In fact, we have given votes to more judicial nominees than in 1996 and 1997 combined, as well as in 1999 and 2000 combined. Despite the partisan din about blockades and stalls and inaction as well as absurd claims that judicial nominees are being held 'hostage'--the fact is that since the change in majority last summer the Senate, and in particular the Judiciary Committee, has been working at a much faster rate than in the 6 rac{1}{2} years of Republican control. With respect to courts of appeals nominees, we confirmed the first of President Bush's nominees last July 20 and today we confirm the 12th. That is a confirmation rate of approximately one circuit court nominee confirmed per month. By contrast, in the 76 months in which Republicans were in charge, only 46 courts of appeals judges were confirmed, at a rate closer to one every two months.”