Senator Leahy may change way Judiciary Panel processes nominees

[Hawaii Hiker]

http://blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb/leahy-may-change-the-way-judiciary-panel-processes-nominees/

Before the recess, senate Republicans failed to show for a Business Meeting @the Judiciary Committee, (judicial nominees must be voted out of there first before going to senate floor) so quorum call was not met....Just today, they refused to show for a nominations hearing where 4 non-controversial nominees were to have their hearing.....

I think the rules do need to be changed here (in the Senate Judiciary Committee) as well.....

[Gothmog]

1. The Blue Slip process is crazy (I live in Texas)

The blue slip process means that Cornyn and Carnival Cruz must approve all judges. These two idiots are refusing to approve any judges and as a result there are judicial emergencies for a couple of districts in Texas. In addition, the 5th cir. is one of the most conservative courts in the country and has three vacancies that need to be filled. Again, Boxturtle and Carnival Cruz are not approving nominees and so the 5th cir. is understaffed and the attorneys who are on the court are nut cases like Priscilla Owen and Edith Jones

[BlueCaliDem]

2. The "blue strip" rule MUST be changed. It's only good when grown-ups in the Senate

govern, but since Republicans have shown their penchant for being adolescent bullies, it's high time to change the rules so they won't continue to play bullies there.

Leahy, stop threatening and change those rules already. What are you waiting for? A Republican president?

[Impedimentus]

3. Everytime Grassley opens his mouth ...

... out plops a sad commentary.

[Gothmog]

4. Judicial vacancies in Texas due to blue slip

Here are the pending Judicial vacancies in Texas. No one has been nominated to replace any of these judges due to the refusal of Cornyn and Carnival Cruz to issue blue slips

05 - CCA Garza,Emilio M. Senior 08/01/2012
05 - CCA Benavides,Fortunato P. Senior 02/03/2012
05 - TXE Ward,T. John Retired 10/01/2011
05 - TXE Folsom,David Retired 03/17/2012
05 - TXN Means,Terry Senior 07/03/2013
05 - TXS Tagle,Hilda G. Senior 12/31/2012
05 - TXS Hoyt,Kenneth M. Senior 03/02/2013
05 - TXS Jack,Janis Graham Senior 06/01/2011
05 - TXW Furgeson Jr.,W. Royal Senior 11/30/2008

[Tx4obama]

5. I just now saw this thread. I've been posting in the other one. Check out the comments over there

Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251344256

[Gothmog]

6. Some new judges were nominated today by President Obama

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/12/19/presidential-nominations-sent-senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

Michael P. Boggs, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, vice Julie E. Carnes.

Julie E. Carnes, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit, vice James Larry Edmondson, retired.

Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia, vice an additional position in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 133(b)(1).

Mark Howard Cohen, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, vice Clarence Cooper, retired.

Gregg Jeffrey Costa, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, vice Fortunato P. Benavides, retired.

M. Hannah Lauck, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, vice James R. Spencer, retiring.

Leigh Martin May, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, vice Beverly B. Martin, elevated.

Eleanor Louise Ross, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, vice Charles A. Pannell, Jr., retired.

Leo T. Sorokin, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts, vice Joseph L. Tauro, retired.

James Alan Soto, of Arizona, to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona, vice David C. Bury, retired.

Judge Costa wrote a great opinion last year striking down some GOP restrictions on voter registration in Texas but his decision was overturned by the 5th Cir. Costa had been approved by KBK and Cornyn for the District Judge slot. I wonder if the Blue Slip procedure will be challenged.

[davidpdx]

8. I think that is the way to do it

If these pricks won't nominate someone and they won't allow a vote then screw them. Choose someone and force a vote. By sitting them with their fingers up their asses the lose the right to have any say in things.

[Blue Idaho]

7. TeaPublican Senators find new ways to avoid doing their job...

Only a low down miserable piece of shit TeaPublican would fulfill their oath of office by not showing up to work. Time for a rule change... If you willfully abandon your committee responsibilities, you are no longer relevant to any quorum count.