Patrick Leahy: “as we adjourn until September, I once again note my dissatisfaction with the lack of progress we have made in confirming…”

“as we adjourn until September, I once again note my dissatisfaction with the lack of progress we have made in confirming the many fine women and men whom President Clinton has nominated to the federal judiciary. This year the Senate has confirmed only 9 federal judges before the August recess during a period of 108 vacancies. Thus, when the Senate returns in September it will remain on the snail-like pace that the Republican leadership has maintained throughout the year of confirming one judge per month. Meanwhile, vacancies have continued to mount and the delays in filling vacancies continue to grow. It is discouraging to once again have to call attention to the fact that some 40 nominees are pending before the Judiciary Committee-- nominees who have yet to be accorded even a hearing during this Congress. Many of these nominations have been pending since the very first day of this session, having been re-nominated by the President after having been held up during last year's partisan stall. Thus, the Committee has not yet worked through the backlog of nominees left pending from last year. Several of those pending before the Committee had hearings or were reported favorably last Congress but have been passed over so far this year, while the vacancies for which they were nominated as long as 27 months ago persist. Those who delay or prevent the filling of these vacancies must understand that they are delaying or preventing the administration of justice.”