Patrick Leahy: “I begin by thanking the nominees' home State Senators for working with us on this nomination and by commending the…”

“I begin by thanking the nominees' home State Senators for working with us on this nomination and by commending the majority leader and our assistant majority leader for bringing this matter to successful conclusion today. Callie Granade is the second nominee being considered from Alabama in the last several weeks and the second confirmed to fill an emergency vacancy. On November 6, the Senate confirmed Judge Karon Bowdre by a vote of 98 to 0 to a longstanding vacancy on the Northern District of Alabama District Court. Today the Senate will take final action to fill a longstanding vacancy on the Southern District of Alabama District Court. This nomination was received on September 5 and reported favorably to the Senate by the Judiciary Committee just a few days before the Senate adjourned last December. It is being taken up in the first days of our return. These Alabama district court vacancies have persisted for years while Senators were unable to agree on acceptable nominees with the previous administration. Unlike the nomination of Ken Simon, which languished for more than 6 months in 2000 without a hearing, both Karon Bowdre and Callie Granade have been considered promptly. I congratulate the nominee and her family on her confirmation today. Confirmation of Ms. Granade will be the seventh confirmation filling a vacancy designated as a judicial emergency since I became chairman last summer.”