Dems Float Names of Hispanics for Court

Associated Press ^ | July 12, 2005 | DEB RIECHMANN and DAVID ESPO

[RWR8189]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Top Senate Democrats floated the names of potential candidates for the Supreme Court on Tuesday in a meeting with President Bush, describing them as the type of nominee who could avoid a fierce confirmation battle.

Several officials familiar with the discussion said Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals and Judge Ed Prado of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, both of whom are Hispanic, were among the names mentioned as Bush met with key lawmakers from both parties to discuss the first high court vacancy in 11 years.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, noting a commitment by those involved not to discuss names.

Bush was noncommittal about his choice to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has resigned effective with the confirmation of her successor. "I'm going to be deliberate in the process," he told reporters at the White House.

Bush "didn't give us any names" Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said after the session had broken up.

Besides Reid, Bush met with Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Democrat on the committee; and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. Also in the room was Vice President Dick Cheney and White House Chief of Staff Andy Card.

The administration has consulted widely with Democrats in the 10 days since O'Connor announced her plans to resign, and the early morning session at the White House was part of that effort.

The meeting came at a time when the president is under pressure from conservatives who want a court that will reverse precedent on rulings on abortion rights, affirmative action, homosexual rights and other social issues. Some conservatives have criticized Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, for example, questioning whether he would vote to overturn the landmark 1973 court ruling that gave women the constitutional right to an abortion. For their part, Democrats are urging Bush to seek a "consensus candidate," one who would win confirmation without a bitter struggle.

Democrats have relatively little leverage in purely numerical terms. Republicans hold 55 seats in the Senate and can confirm any of Bush's picks unless Democrats mount a filibuster. That would require 60 votes in the 100-member chamber.

Democrats have done extensive research on dozens of potential replacements for O'Connor. Officials said that Leahy suggested the names of Sotomayor and Prado and others.

According to an official government Web site, Sotomayor was named a U.S. District Court judge in 1991 by former President George H.W. Bush, the president's father, and confirmed in August 1992. President Clinton nominated her for a seat on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 1997, and she was confirmed in 1998.

President Reagan nominated Prado to a seat on the U.S. District Court in 1984. The current President Bush picked him for his current post in 2003, and he was confirmed on a vote of 97-0.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"he was confirmed on a vote of 97-0.

All I need to know about Prado."

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Don't be so hasty. Scalia was confirmed for the Supreme Court like 98-0. When the Democrats decide not to oppose a nominee, it often turns out to be unanimous.

But if Prado was named to the U.S. District Court in 1984 he's probably over 60, and thus not a good Supreme Court pick even if he's a solid conservative.