As Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar announced that a bipartisan panel will help select candidates for three federal judicial vacancies in Colorado, Republican Sen. Wayne Allard said he submitted four names to the White House in November, and two are close to being nominated.
But Salazar says his eight-member panel is going to help decide which candidates’ names should be submitted to the White House by March 15.
He has also asked his commission to develop a set of recommendations on how to improve and formalize future federal judicial nominations.
Allard says Salazar’s commission is going to take too long and that the Senate won’t be considering federal judgeships past July 1, which wouldn’t be enough time to complete background checks on any candidates Salazar might suggest.
“I am disappointed that Sen. Salazar has not made more of an effort to get these names to the president earlier, and this could be a delay tactic so they won’t get these positions filled,” Allard said Thursday. “He could well be hoping that we will miss the deadlines and we get into the next year and the next president. We cannot wait.”
Salazar says he has not been consulted by the White House about who should be nominated, and he’s never met three of the four candidates endorsed by Allard.
“I am a U.S. senator, and ultimately, I will be involved and will be consulted and will make sure at the end of the day that we have the best, stellar jurist for the U.S. District Court,” Salazar said.
The dispute is the latest in an increasingly contentious relationship between Colorado’s U.S. senators and mirrors the split between the White House and Congress.
Traditionally, the president relies on the senior senator from his party to make recommendations on nominees.
But those lifetime judicial appointments then have to be confirmed by the Senate, now controlled by Democrats who could make it hard on Allard’s suggested nominees if Salazar objects. If enough time passes, the nomination could lapse, a Democrat could be in the White House, and Salazar would get his turn.
Salazar says dozens of seasoned lawyers have approached him about their interest in the federal bench, and he wants everyone to have a chance to apply for the lifetime appointment.
“They should have the opportunity to serve, as opposed to nominations and appointments made in the dark of night,” Salazar said.
Allard says Salazar did not approve of some of the candidates he suggested when the two talked about the vacancies in August, but there isn’t time for arguments. Of the four candidates Allard submitted in November, he says one is a Democrat recommended by Salazar, one is an independent, and two are Republicans, one of whom has a recommendation from Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter.
After Judge Phillip S. Figa died Jan. 5, Allard says he came up with three more names of candidates for the White House to consider.
“They have good experience in the court and the judicial system and they come recommended by Republicans and Democrats,” Allard said. He declined to disclose the names.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
