Judicial Vacancies Leave GOP With Empty Feeling

Washington Post ^ | July 6, 2007 | Al Kamen

[Kuksool]

Some Republicans are upset that the White House has nominated only 25 people to fill the 47 vacancies now on the federal judiciary. Not to worry. If history is any guide, President Bush can nominate as many people as he wants, but most of them will not don the black robes anytime soon.

As we head into the administration's final 18 months, it appears that, with the Democrats running the Senate, Bush, who has put 278 district and appeals court judges on the bench, has virtually no chance of besting Bill Clinton's370 appointments to those courts -- about 43 percent of the total 853 judges.

Only an average of 51.5 judges have been confirmed in the last year of recent presidencies -- Jimmy Carter through Clinton -- including an average of nine confirmed for the more important federal appellate courts.

If that average holds, Bush will fall well short of Clinton's total, and he may be hard-pressed to get the 11 he needs to match Clinton's 65 appeals court appointments. (By the way, Clinton reached his total with the Senate in GOP hands for six of his eight years.)

When the Senate left town in December 2000, there were 67 judicial vacancies. Clinton had nominated 41 people for those jobs, but they were stalled. The Senate confirmed only 62 judges, including for the appellate courts, during the final 15 months of Clinton's presidency.

[Kuksool]

Totally unacceptable in regards to the number of judges confirmed.

If the GOP Senators quit stuffing their mouths full of pork, then maybe some more good judges would be confirmed.

[tobyhill]

President Bush could recess appoint judges to fill the vacancies then let the AG sue against his own policies which would basically set the precedence when he won or lost depending how one looks at it.

[philsfan24]

thanks macaca

[KC_Conspirator]

This is what the GOP and Bush get for playing by the Queensbury Rules while the other side is street fighting.

[SIDENET]

LOL!

[AirBorn]

Thank you K For the article- This Rush piece kind of goes hand in hand too:

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_070907/content/01125108.member.html

America Could Stomach Iraq War, But Washington GOP Surrenders

Some sections: "...They're trying to shut down this administration for the remaining year and a half that it has left. Evidence of that, too, is that these committees are refusing to confirm or even hold hearings on scores of nominees to top administration positions, including the judiciary. ..."

"...They're not just trying to stall the presidency here for the next year and a half. They're trying to destroy the executive's power. They're trying to destroy the office of the presidency and the ability of the president to function. ..."

"...Evidence of that, too, is that these committees are refusing to confirm or even hold hearings on scores of nominees to top administration positions, including the judiciary. "

"what are the Republicans doing about it?" Well, you tell me. It would be one thing if they just weren't on the field, but it's worse than that. They're surrendering! .... they're surrendering. They are nowhere to be found on .."...the war. They are nowhere to be found on permanent tax cuts.... They were nowhere to be found on it. They were nowhere to be found on judicial confirmations.. "...

They are No Where to be found....

" Evil Wins when Good men & Women stand by and Do Nothing!."

[NeoCaveman]

The 4th circuit is half empty thanks in no small part to Senator Grahmnesty.

[Clintonfatigued]

That is SO true!

[colorado tanker]

Well, aren’t we glad that the Prez spent most of his time after the ‘04 election working on Social Security instead of judges?

[Kuksool]

I suspect the reason why the GOP Senators were so lackluster in confirming judges was that they didn't want to irritate fellow Dems who may support their pork-barrel schemes.