Litigation

NY Times Hits GOP ?Obstruction? on Judges

By Peter Hardin

Senate Republicans “are persisting in playing an obstructionist game,” says an angry New York Times editorial that advocates action on pending federal judicial nominees.

Under the headline “Advise and Obstruct,” the editorial takes the Republicans to task:

“The Senate?s power to advise and consent on federal judicial nominations was intended as a check against sorely deficient presidential choices. It is not a license to exercise partisan influence over these vital jobs by blocking confirmation of entire slates of well-qualified nominees offered by a president of the opposite party.”

Regarding a recent report about negotiations to allow votes on 19 of 38 pending nominees (see Gavel Grab), the editorial is displeased:

“That would be a disservice to the judicial system, to Mr. Obama?s nominees and to the idea that bipartisanship should exist, at last, in the advise-and-consent process for federal judges.”

Full post as published by The Gavel on December 15, 2010 (boomark / email).