WASHINGTON — In a blistering rebuke, President Bush said Thursday that the Senate’s procedure for approving federal judges has become too political and discourages qualified nominees from being considered.
“The Senate is no longer asking the right question, whether a nominee is someone who will uphold our Constitution and laws,” Bush said in excerpts of a speech he was to deliver Thursday night to The Federalist Society.
“Instead, nominees are asked to guarantee specific outcomes of cases that might come before the court. If they refuse – as they should – they often find their nomination ends up in limbo instead of on the Senate floor.”
Bush said the confirmation process unfairly tarnishes reputations of good candidates.
Sen. Arlen Specter, the Judiciary Committee’s ranking Republican, said Bush’s rhetoric was strong considering there still was hope for getting some nominees confirmed during the final year of Bush’s presidency.
Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said there are 47 vacancies on district and circuit courts. Bush has not nominated anyone for 26 of these 47 spots, according to the committee.
