On Thursday, when the U.S. Senate finally confirmed David Guaderrama and Gregg Costa as Texas federal district judges, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison stated, "As I understand it, we have confirmed the same -- roughly the same -- number of district judges as President George Bush and President Clinton did in their first terms. To my knowledge, we are not holding up nominations at all."
Neither her understanding nor her knowledge even approaches reality.As of April 26, in their first terms, the Senate had confirmed 151 Clinton district judges, 142 of President Bush's but only 113 of President Obama's.Senate Republicans continue to block floor votes on 19 committee-approved nominations. These include nominees whom Texas Sen. John Cornyn and other Judiciary Committee Republicans supported to fill vacancies that the U.S. courts have designated as "judicial emergencies." Seven other nominees cannot even have hearings because GOP senators have not returned the required home-state senator "blue slips."Once Hutchison is aware of these facts, she could help confirm judges to overburdened courts so justice delayed will not continue to be justice denied.-- Glenn Sugameli, Staff Attorney, Judging the Environment, Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, D.C.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
