Hatch to Stalled Judicial Nominees: 'Hang In'

Reuters ^ | 09-05-03

[Brian S]

Fri September 5, 2003 02:05 PM ET By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch said on Friday he does not expect other stalled judicial nominees to follow Miguel Estrada's lead and drop their confirmation bids, but "we are always concerned."

"I've basically told them, 'Hang in there. We'll do our best to get you through,"' Hatch, a Utah Republican, told Reuters. "Let the process work."

Estrada got fed up with the process. After waiting more than two years for a Senate confirmation vote, Estrada asked President Bush on Thursday to withdraw his nomination to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Democrats, who denounced Estrada as a right-wing ideologue, had blocked the nomination with a procedural hurdle known as a filibuster. A majority of the 100-member Senate backed Estrada, but proponents were unable to get the needed 60 votes to end the filibuster.

Democrats are now filibustering two other appeals court nominees, Alabama Attorney General William Pryor and Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen. And they say they have to votes to block at least two more, U.S. District Judge Charles Pickering of Mississippi and California jurist Carolyn Kuhl.

Unlike the other stalled nominees, Estrada has a private practice, and backers noted there are problems keeping and attracting clients while in limbo about a possible judgeship.

Hatch, asked if he expected any other stalled nominees to withdraw, told reporters, "We are always concerned about that. But I personally don't think any of them will."

Hatch said Republicans will continue to press for the case for these and other nominees and look for a way to end filibusters against them.

Some Republicans have considered filing suit challenging the constitutionality of filibusters while others have explored trying to change Senate rules to outlaw them on nominations.

But lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have warned such action would further strain relations in the Senate and make it more difficult to find common ground.

Democrats have said Bush could avoid future filibusters if he offers more mainstream judicial nominees.

[dead]

but "we are always concerned."

If you kicked Escape Hatch in the head, he would tell you he was “concerned” about the pain.

[Unknown Freeper]

"I've basically told them, 'Hang in there. We'll do our best to get you through,"' Hatch, a Utah Republican, told Reuters. "Let the process work."

And let's see what good that did Estrada twenty-eight months later. Is this really your best, Hatch?

[mhking]

"I've basically told them, 'Hang in there. We'll do our best to get you through,"' Hatch, a Utah Republican, told Reuters. "Let the process work."

GET THE DAMN JOB DONE SO THEY WON'T HAVE TO WAIT.

Forcing Estrada to twist in the wind for more than two years is just plain wrong. The ineptness of the Republicans in the Senate is unconscionable at the very least. Or is it actually laziness?

Well, what is it, Hatch? How about you, Frist? I know that folk on the Hill pay attention to what's said around here. So when's the answer coming? Or is it business as usual - to let the Dems run the show even though they're in the minority?

[bmwcyle]

Did Hatch wake up from his nap?

[rrrod]

republican senators are just pretending to be sincere now...where were they when the RATS were attacking??? ive called several senators office today to voice my disgust with their behavior..and will continue to do so..there is no excuse for their cowardice...while we have troops fighting terrorist all over the world..the republicans wont even stand up to the RATS..this is truely disgusting

[1Old Pro]

"I've basically told them, 'Hang in there.

That's what they're doing.....it's called high tech lynching.

[TomGuy]

Keyword: Hang!

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

I still don't understand exactly how Democrats can filibuster judicial nominees, period. If we had a majority vote, they should just declare the nominee confirmed, end of story.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

You see, like us, they just have to wait until the GOP has a majority in the Senate and the House and a republican in the White House.

Once we get that, we'll steamroller those dems.
You'll see.

[samtheman]

I agree with Sean Hannity. The perfidy of the Democrats is a given. That's the way of the world. But the lack of fighting spirit in the Republican Party is disheartening. They could have stuck together and forced a real filibuster, instead of a paper one. The whole country would have been inspired by their bravery.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

I've called several senators office today to voice my disgust with their behavior..and will continue to do so..there is no excuse for their cowardice...while we have troops fighting terrorist all over the world..the republicans wont even stand up to the RATS..this is truely disgusting

You know what...I'm with you...but the fact remains...expressing our disgust with their behavior is fine; however, their motivation is nil at best; there is no consequence for there actions...there is no accountability. Wanna know why?...because we have no other party to go to. Its the whole "yeah don't vote that (R) back in office come re-election time! dont vote in protest! let the dem get instead...that'll show'em blah blah blah"

WTF do we do?

[Coop]

Forcing Estrada to twist in the wind for more than two years is just plain wrong. The ineptness of the Republicans in the Senate is unconscionable at the very least. Or is it actually laziness?

Then come up with a solution. (And please don't trot out the ol' 24/7 line again.)

[TomGuy]

You see, like us, they just have to wait until the GOP has a majority in the Senate and the House and a republican in the White House.

Once we get that, we'll steamroller those dems. You'll see.

But, it depends on what the meaning of "majority" is.

The Dems can lock things up with as few as 41. The Pubbies can't do much with as many as 59.

Say what you will, you gotta hand it to the Dems; they outmaneuvered the Pubbies bigtime.

[rrrod]

very frustrating indeed

[mhking]

Then come up with a solution. (And please don't trot out the ol' 24/7 line again.)

GET THE JOB DONE. That's why we elected them. To get the job done.

Hell, we could have gotten this kind of treatment from the Dems.

[Coop]

Well, that's just a darned fine answer.

In other words, we don't know what to do, do we? But rather than blame the cause of the problem (the obstructionist Hypocrats), you vent at the GOP - thereby aiding and encouraging these very obstructionist tactics. Well done!

[Dane]

I still don't understand exactly how Democrats can filibuster judicial nominees, period.

It has been a two hundred year precedent in the Senate that judicial nominees were not to be filabustered.

Hillary and Schumer threw that out the window.

And some armchair geniuses on FR blame the GOP for Hillary and Schumer's actions.

[Rummyfan]

Judicial nominees to Hatch: stop spending your time writing stupid songs and get your a** in gear getting us confirmed!

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Hatch, asked if he expected any other stalled nominees to withdraw, told reporters, "We are always concerned about that. But I personally don't think any of them will."

Just as "concerned," evidently, as I am over whether Justin Timberlake's next single is going to be a hit or not.

In other words: Not Very.