Litigation

Editorial Scolds Senate Over Judicial Backlog

By Peter Hardin

A North Carolina newspaper is mincing no words in scolding the U.S. senate for inaction on certain judicial nominations.

A Charlotte Observer editorial says Judge Albert Diaz (photo at  right) was approved unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee for a seat on the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals almost 300 days ago, but he still awaits Senate confirmation. The editorial targets the Senate:

“Thanks to infantile political gamesmanship, the Senate still has not confirmed him. And so a judge that most everyone agrees is well-qualified languishes in limbo and a busy court one step below the U.S. Supreme Court remains in a staffing crisis.”

The editorial names Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell as apparently the biggest impediment to action. McConnell has reversed himself recently on earmarks, and ought to do the same on blocking judicial confirmations “if he has any sense,” the editorial states.

The editorial also calls for action on the nomination of Judge Catherine Eagles for a district court judgeship. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved her nomination in May.

You can learn more about the backlog of confirmations facing the Senate from Gavel Grab.

Full post as published by The Gavel on November 23, 2010 (boomark / email).