Patrick Leahy: “With last week's votes, the number of Federal judges confirmed since the change in Senate majority 10 months ago now…”

“With last week's votes, the number of Federal judges confirmed since the change in Senate majority 10 months ago now totals 56. Under Democratic leadership, the Senate has confirmed more judges in 10 months than were confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate in the 1996 and 1997 sessions combined. Today's vote is on the nomination of Paul Cassell to the United States District Court for the District of Utah. After a great deal of thought, I will not be voting for this nominee today. Although this nomination is supported by my good friend from Utah, Senator Hatch, we disagree on his suitability to serve as a Federal judge. Senator Hatch has been an admirable and stalwart advocate for this nomination, and I certainly mean him no disrespect in voting against Professor Cassell. The constitutional responsibility to advise and consent to the President's selection of lifetime tenured judicial nominees should not be devalued to advise and rubber stamp. When the President sends us a nominee whose qualifications, judgment or background raise concerns or who has a misunderstanding of the appropriate role of a Federal judge, I intend to make my concerns known. This is one of those times. The nomination of Professor Paul Cassell raises several areas of serious concern to me.”