Hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee - Nominations

Hearing

I'd like to welcome the nominees to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Being nominated to the
federal judiciary is a significant accomplishment and reflects well on the career of each of the
nominees. This a proud moment for you and your families. Congratulations on your nominations.

Today's hearing is the 6th nominations hearing this year during which we will have considered a
total of 17 nominees (4 executive and 13 judicial nominees). This total includes hearings for both
the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General. This is almost identical to the standard
established in 2007 when the Democrats were in charge and President Bush was in the White
House. By the end of June 2007, this Committee held 5 nominations hearings for a total of 17
nominees.

And regarding circuit court nominations, I would note that at this point in 2007, the Committee
had held a hearing for two circuit court nominees. Likewise, including today's hearing, we will
have held hearings for two circuit court nominees.

Regarding floor activity, there has been some confusion about the record from 2006 and 2007.
At the end of 2006, during Bush's presidency, 13 district court judges who were already voted
out of committee and awaiting consideration on the Senate floor were returned to the President.
Those nominees were then re-submitted to the Senate in January of 2007, and processed in the
new Congress. So, that's why the Senate had considered the number that it had by this point in
2007. This is the standard practice. And that practice is typically followed so that newly elected
members have an opportunity for their voices to be heard.

Now, contrast that to what happened last November and December. The then-Majority, without
regard for Senate history or practice, confirmed 11 federal judges during the Lame Duck who,
under regular order, should have been considered this Congress, just like was done in 2007. Had
the historical practice been followed, we'd have about the same number of confirmations by
now.

Overall, the Senate has confirmed 311 of President Obama's judicial nominees. At the same
point in his presidency, President Bush only had 276 judicial nominees confirmed. So I will
again point out that President Obama is doing significantly better in terms of judicial
confirmations than President Bush was at this point in his presidency.

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