Judicial Nominations

As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2001-2003 and as the committee's Democratic leader, Pat Leahy has fought to protect the independence of America's federal judiciary.

Pat Leahy has taken on difficult fights in considering nominees for life-time appointments that are far removed from the mainstream. He believes that judicial activists who place their personal ideology above the law threaten the independence of our courts.

Efficient Consideration of Judicial Nominees

• Senator Leahy helped to achieve the lowest vacancy rate in the federal courts in 14 years.
• By April 2004, 173 Bush judicial nominations had been confirmed, 100 of which were confirmed under Senator Leahy's leadership.
• Under President Clinton, Republicans blocked more than 60 percent of judicial nominations from getting hearings or votes.
• 3 of 173 Bush nominations did not receive Senate approval. During the Clinton administration, more than 20 percent of nominations were blocked.

Separate But Equal Branches of Government

• CONGRESS SHOULD NOT BE A RUBBER STAMP – The Constitution grants the President the power to suggest nominees and the Senate the power to advise and consent about these nominees being appointed to lifelong positions on the judicial bench. The Senate is not a rubber stamp for any President's nominations.
• NOMINEES RECEIVE HEARINGS – Pat Leahy scheduled hearings at a faster rate than the Republicans did for President Clinton's nominees. A number of President Clinton's nominees were never allowed hearings or votes.
• HIGH RATE OF CONFIRMATION – The Senate has confirmed 173 of President Bush's judicial nominations, and has blocked six on the Senate floor. The President chose to undermine the Senate's role and installed two of these nominees as "recess appointees," and another nominee withdrew to take another job. Republicans blocked 20 percent of President Clinton's judicial nominations, while only 2.3 percent of President Bush's have been blocked