Southwick Press Conference
By Curt Levey Posted in Southwick — Comments (14) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
This afternoon, upon returning to Washington from August recess, Senators Specter and Hatch held a press conference in support of Leslie Southwick’s nomination. They were joined by the principals of various organizations involved in the judges fight. In addition to the senators, a few principals spoke, as did Jim Warner, an attorney and Vietnam veteran with 2 Purple Hearts. Here are a few excerpts of the participants’ remarks:
It is a struggle . . . But I think that with sufficient enthusiasm, and candidly, with sufficient pressure, we will get Judge Southwick confirmed. – Sen. Arlen Specter
We hear a lot talk in Washington these days about how the justice system is supposedly being politicized. If those Senators who protest about this most loudly are sincere they should put their votes where their mouths are and support Judge Southwick’s nomination. What could be more politicizing than the demand that a judge must rule for certain parties or promote certain political interests in their decisions? That’s what Judge Southwick’s opponents are demanding. – Sen. Orrin Hatch
I think that this is a bad way to treat a fellow veteran. It's the same people who treated us badly when we came back from Vietnam. And I ask them to put aside their bias against veterans, and support the nomination of Judge Southwick. – Jim Warner
Video of the senators’ remarks are available here.
Matt
by jtp7
One at a time. I will be happy getting just Southwick, Elrod, and Keisler by the end of the year. We have to focus and go one at a time. Southwick is not out of the woods yet. A Keisler distraction now could sink him.
jtp7
by Matthew Friendly
Perhaps, but my point is that Keisler has been all but forgotten.
Keisler, Kethledge and Murphy
by cboldt
I have a sinking feeling that Keisler, Kethledge and Murphy (all three being carry-over nominations from the 109th Congress) are subjects of a "deliberate silent treatment," and that these nominations will be returned at the end of the first session of the 110th Congress. Of the three, Keisler is the most contentious, having been twice returned to the president. Kethledge and Murphy have each been returned one time.
The two district court nominees were voted out of committee this morning. Jennifer Elrod, a 5th Circuit nominee, was held over. The song remains the same.
the Dems always seem to "need" or is this a more permanent type?
Re: Was that the automatic one-week holdover
by Curt Levey
Yes, it’s the predictable one-week holdover. I wouldn’t read anything into it.
Holdover and DiFi
by MarkN
I wouldn't read too much into the one week delay. Next week will be crucial for Elrod. If she is on the agenda of the 13th (if there is an agenda for next week, seeing that is a Jewish Holiday), then that meeting will be all important. I was surprised that she was on today's agenda. Maybe we should not underestimate the importance of DiFi's vote to shift the momentum on the confirmation wars? The Democrats could have easily kept her off today's agenda, have no meeting next week, put her on the business meeting of the 20th, and then hold her over until the 27th. No way for her to be confirmed by the end of September. Now she at least a 50/50 chance to be confirmed by the end of the month.
I'm glad Curt is looking into the comments on his thread. Does anyone know if the ABA has rated Haynes and/or Conrad?
nominatethem
by Nomination Observer
I would have hoped that the end of the August recess would have brought a few more nominees, esp. for the 4th Circuit. The timing isn't getting any better...
Here's the link if you want to keep tabs on them:
http://www.abanet.org/scfedjud/ratings.html
I note Tinder got a WQ.
New nominations
by cubsfan
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Sydney, Australia)
___________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release September 7, 2007
NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:
Stanley Thomas Anderson, of Tennessee, to be United States
District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee, vice James D.
Todd, retiring.
E. Duncan Getchell, Jr., of Virginia, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit, vice H. Emory Widener, Jr.,
retired.
Steve A. Matthews, of South Carolina, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit, vice William W. Wilkins, Jr.,
retired.
John A. Mendez, of California, to be United States District
Judge for the Eastern District of California, vice David F. Levi,
resigned.
cubsfan
by MarkN
Thank you for the link Cubsfan. Is there a link to the WH web site?
Oh!?@ and the Dodgers hit a three run home run in the ninth today. Dodgers-7 Cubs-4.
MarkN - WH link
by cubsfan
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070906-5.html
And "ouch" on the Cubs game. Now I have to root for a Brewer loss.
Grandma lives in Milwaukee
by MarkN
So I can't help you there. Dad worked for the old Schlitz Brewery. Brewers don't play until tomorrow. Currently, Cubs and Brewers have identical records. Cards are one game back and tied in the loss column. Looks like a good three way race to Sept. 30th.
BTW, thank you for the link.
That's nice, but what about Keisler? He is arguably a more important nominee, and he certainly is a more impressive nominee in terms of legal pedigree and future SCOTUS prospects. And yet, he is all but forgotten, with his nomination now languishing since late June 2006.