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Apr 21, 12:56 PM EDT
Showdown Nears Over Bush Judicial Nominees
By JESSE J. HOLLAND
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republicans on Thursday moved closer to a showdown with Democrats over filibusters of President Bush's judicial nominees, sending two judges under dispute to the full Senate.
The GOP-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee on identical 10-8 partisan votes gave its approval to Texas judge Priscilla Owen and California judge Janice Rogers Brown, who were nominated by Bush for lifetime judgeships on the regional U.S. appeals courts, the nation's second-highest courts.
Owen wants to work on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans and Brown wants a seat on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia. They were blocked from confirmation by Democratic filibuster threats during Bush's first term but were renominated by the president after he won a second term in November.
Democrats say they will block the nominees again because they are too conservative. "They deserved to be rejected before," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "They deserve to be rejected again."
But Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has threatened to ban judicial filibusters to stop Democrats from blocking the judges again, and has been working to secure the 50 votes he needs from his Republican caucus to make the rules change.
"Soon, all 100 Senators will have to decide if these highly qualified candidates will get a fair up-or-down vote on the Senate floor," Frist said Thursday.
It requires 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster.
In an attempt to make Republicans reconsider that plan, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid has vowed to slow or halt Senate action on much routine business if Frist follows through with his threat to force up-or-down votes in which nominees could be confirmed by a bare majority.
Republicans defended Owen and Brown, saying they were fine judges and Democrats broke with Senate tradition by threatening to filibuster their nominations.
Owen "deserves to be confirmed and she deserves the professional courtesy of an up-or-down vote," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who served on the Texas Supreme Court with Owen.
GOP Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Brown's home state, said Brown was the type of judge the country needs, who has "a reverence for our Constitution, who will approach these issues with independence, an open mind, a lot of common sense, a willingness to work hard and an ability to communicate clearly and effectively."
Brown now serves on the California Supreme Court.
Democrats have promised to continue to block the nominees they held up during Bush's first term. Democrats blocked 10 judicial nominees from confirmation through filibuster threats. Three withdrew and Bush renominated the rest.
Democrats called Brown and Owen judicial activists who should be stopped before they get lifetime appointments. "The nomination of Janice Rogers Brown is a prime example of a nominee who sees the federal bench as a platform to advance her own extremist views," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
And Owen "is an example of a judge who is very eager to make law from the bench," said Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the committee's top Democrat.
North Carolina judge Terrence W. Boyle, a former aide to retired Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., who expected a committee vote as well, was held over after Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., requested extra time to review some of his rulings as a U.S. District judge. Boyle was never filibustered by Democrats because his nomination was blocked in committee by then-North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
Another of Bush's blocked nominees, Idaho lawyer William Myers, already has been approved by the Judiciary Committee. But conservatives would rather see the final showdown come over Brown, Owen or U.S. Appeals Court Judge William Pryor, who was given a temporary appointment by Bush after he was blocked by Democrats.
Pryor's nomination is expected to be advanced by the Judiciary Committee next week.
Conservatives during the last Congress accused Democrats of being anti-minority for blocking Brown, who is black; anti-women for blocking Owen, and anti-Catholic for blocking Pryor.
Activists plan a similar tactic this year, with Frist planning to deliver a taped message to Christian conservatives on April 24 saying Democrats are "against people of faith" for blocking Bush's nominees.
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On the Net:
Senate Judiciary Committee: http://judiciary.senate.gov
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
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Showdown Nears Over Bush Judicial Nominees
By JESSE J. HOLLAND
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republicans on Thursday moved closer to a showdown with Democrats over filibusters of President Bush's judicial nominees, sending two judges under dispute to the full Senate.
The GOP-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee on identical 10-8 partisan votes gave its approval to Texas judge Priscilla Owen and California judge Janice Rogers Brown, who were nominated by Bush for lifetime judgeships on the regional U.S. appeals courts, the nation's second-highest courts.
Owen wants to work on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans and Brown wants a seat on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia. They were blocked from confirmation by Democratic filibuster threats during Bush's first term but were renominated by the president after he won a second term in November.
Democrats say they will block the nominees again because they are too conservative. "They deserved to be rejected before," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "They deserve to be rejected again."
But Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has threatened to ban judicial filibusters to stop Democrats from blocking the judges again, and has been working to secure the 50 votes he needs from his Republican caucus to make the rules change.
"Soon, all 100 Senators will have to decide if these highly qualified candidates will get a fair up-or-down vote on the Senate floor," Frist said Thursday.
It requires 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster.
In an attempt to make Republicans reconsider that plan, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid has vowed to slow or halt Senate action on much routine business if Frist follows through with his threat to force up-or-down votes in which nominees could be confirmed by a bare majority.
Republicans defended Owen and Brown, saying they were fine judges and Democrats broke with Senate tradition by threatening to filibuster their nominations.
Owen "deserves to be confirmed and she deserves the professional courtesy of an up-or-down vote," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who served on the Texas Supreme Court with Owen.
GOP Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Brown's home state, said Brown was the type of judge the country needs, who has "a reverence for our Constitution, who will approach these issues with independence, an open mind, a lot of common sense, a willingness to work hard and an ability to communicate clearly and effectively."
Brown now serves on the California Supreme Court.
Democrats have promised to continue to block the nominees they held up during Bush's first term. Democrats blocked 10 judicial nominees from confirmation through filibuster threats. Three withdrew and Bush renominated the rest.
Democrats called Brown and Owen judicial activists who should be stopped before they get lifetime appointments. "The nomination of Janice Rogers Brown is a prime example of a nominee who sees the federal bench as a platform to advance her own extremist views," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
And Owen "is an example of a judge who is very eager to make law from the bench," said Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the committee's top Democrat.
North Carolina judge Terrence W. Boyle, a former aide to retired Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., who expected a committee vote as well, was held over after Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., requested extra time to review some of his rulings as a U.S. District judge. Boyle was never filibustered by Democrats because his nomination was blocked in committee by then-North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
Another of Bush's blocked nominees, Idaho lawyer William Myers, already has been approved by the Judiciary Committee. But conservatives would rather see the final showdown come over Brown, Owen or U.S. Appeals Court Judge William Pryor, who was given a temporary appointment by Bush after he was blocked by Democrats.
Pryor's nomination is expected to be advanced by the Judiciary Committee next week.
Conservatives during the last Congress accused Democrats of being anti-minority for blocking Brown, who is black; anti-women for blocking Owen, and anti-Catholic for blocking Pryor.
Activists plan a similar tactic this year, with Frist planning to deliver a taped message to Christian conservatives on April 24 saying Democrats are "against people of faith" for blocking Bush's nominees.
---
On the Net:
Senate Judiciary Committee: http://judiciary.senate.gov
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
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