1920 L Street, N.W. | Suite 200 | Washington, DC 20036 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 13, 2008 CONTACT: Curt Levey, (202) 270-7748,
[email protected] 60 Groups Demand GOP & Dems Move Judicial Nominees 15 Appeals Court Nominees Must Reach Senate Floor DC Cir. Nominee Keisler is “Highest Priority” WASHINGTON, DC - Today, a coalition of about 60 organizations – led by the Committee for Justice (CFJ) – delivered a letter to each of the 19 members of the Senate Judiciary Committee “to express our deep concern about the lack of progress in 2007 in reporting judicial nominees . out of the Judiciary Committee, and to discuss reasonable expectations for progress on this issue in 2008.” The coalition cites “the remarkably low approval ratings for the 110th Congress” and decries the fact that “a year into the 110th Congress, the Judiciary Committee has held hearings for only four appeals court nominees and has voted on only six. As a result, the full Senate has fallen far short of the confirmation pace necessary to meet the historical average of 17 circuit court confirmations during a president’s final two years in office [with] opposition control of the Senate.” “This letter is aimed at both Republican and Democratic senators,” explained CFJ executive director Curt Levey. “Both parties have good reason to make this a priority. Senate Democrats remember that in 2004, the last time judicial nominees were an election issue in Senate races, the issue cost them and their leader, Tom Daschle, dearly. As for Republicans, Ranking Member Arlen