Senate Republicans Block Nine Judicial Nominees From Confirmation

WASHINGTON (Friday, December 20, 2013) – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) blasted Republicans for needlessly blocking the confirmation of nine judicial nominees currently pending on the floor before the end of the year.

“Republicans are once again—for the fifth year in a row—rejecting the longstanding Senate practice of scheduling confirmation votes on consensus nominees before the end of the session,” Leahy said. “The result is that we will spend a significant portion of the next year on the Senate floor doing work that should have been completed this year.”

A total of 55 judicial nominees pending in the Judiciary Committee and on the floor will be returned to the White House because of Republican delay tactics, Leahy said, including recent obstruction of the Committee even meeting to consider nominees.

Leahy noted that the Senate confirmed on Friday Brian Davis to a district court seat in Florida. Davis’s nomination lagged for 660 days. Judge Robert Wilkins, a nominee to serve on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, will be considered early next year.

“As we approach the new year, I hope that reasonable Republicans will join us in restoring the Senate’s ability to fulfill its constitutional duties and do its work for the American people,” he said.

Leahy’s full statement on judicial nominations can be found online.

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Nominations Pending On The Senate Calendar

Jeffrey A. Meyer (D CT) Reported on September 19, 2013 Timothy L. Brooks (WD AR) Reported on October 31, 2013 James Donato* (ND CA) Reported on October 31, 2013 Beth L. Freeman* (ND CA) Reported on October 31, 2013 Pedro D. Hernandez* (D PR) Reported on October 31, 2013 Carolyn B. McHugh (10th Cir, UT) Reported on November 14, 2013 Pamela L. Reeves (ED TN) Reported on November 14, 2013 Vince G. Chhabria* (ND CA) Reported on November 14, 2013 James M. Moody (ED AR) Reported on November 14, 2013

*Indicates this nominee will fill a Judicial Emergency

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