Justice Janice Rogers Brown Deserves a Fair Vote

JUSTICE JANICE ROGERS BROWN DESERVES A FAIR VOTE -- (House of Representatives - May 18, 2005)

(Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, for over 200 years, judges have been confirmed by a simple majority vote.

When President Clinton was in office, his nominees required only 51 votes to be confirmed by the Senate. Unfortunately, Democrats have changed the rules and require today's nominees to receive an unprecedented 60-vote standard.

Justice Janice Rogers Brown of California is one of the many highly qualified nominees who are being denied a fair up-and-down vote. Justice Brown is the first African American to serve on California's highest court and was retained with 76 percent of the vote statewide in her last election. However, Democrats are denying her the opportunity of a fair vote simply because she was nominated by President Bush.

On Monday, Majority Leader Frist explained in USA Today why the Democratic obstructionism is harmful to the American people and the constitutional process. When our courthouses sit empty, Democrats should not be focused on partisan games.

In conclusion, God bless our troops and we will never forget September 11.

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