Private: Senators Decry Delays in Confirming Executive, Judicial Selections

A number of senators took to the chamber's floor today to express frustration over continuing delays in confirming President Obama's executive and judicial nominations. In a statement from the floor, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy blasted what he called the "delays and obstruction of President Obama's nominations ...."

Not only are many of the administration's executive branch selections stalled in the Senate, but nominations to the federal bench are also languishing, due to filibusters and other delaying tactics, "the result of a Republican strategy to stall, obstruct, and delay that has existed throughout President's Obama's time in office, Leahy (pictured) said.

From the Senate floor, Leahy said:

In addition to the many executive branch nominees currently stalled on the Senate calendar, there are 18 judicial nominees that have been reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee-most of them unanimously-who await Senate consideration. That is more nominees than the total of President Obama's circuit and district court nominees-17-that have been confirmed since he took office. This sorry state of affairs is the result of a Republican strategy to stall, obstruct, and delay that has existed throughout President Obama's time in office. The casualties of this effort are the American people who seek justice in our increasingly overburdened Federal courts.

By this date during President Bush's first term, the Senate had confirmed 41 Federal circuit and district court nominations. 

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In contrast, the Senate has confirmed just 17 Federal and circuit court nominees-just 17-during President Obama's first term.

We are currently on pace to confirm fewer than 30 Federal circuit and district court nominees during this Congress, which would be easily the lowest in memory. That number stands in sad contrast to the 100 judges we confirmed when I chaired the Judiciary Committee for 17 months during President Bush's first term. When we were reviewing the judicial nominees of a President of the other party, and one who consulted across the aisle far less than President Obama has, we confirmed 100 judges in just 17 months. President Obama is in his 14th month and Senate Republicans have allowed only 17 Federal circuit and district court judges to be confirmed. We are 24 behind the pace we set in 2001 and 2002.

Last week ACS hosted a panel discussion on filibuster and other delays and their effect on judicial nominations. Video of that discussion is available here. 

Executive Power, Importance of the Courts