Senate Democrats Urge Majority Leader to Schedule Judicial Confirmation Votes

By Michael Oleaga First Posted: Aug 17, 2015 04:24 PM EDT

Senate Democrats have urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to speed up the judicial nomination process, especially for the 31 "judicial emergency vacancies" that are reportedly affecting communities.

In a letter to McConnell, the Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have called the Senate leader to "more swiftly schedule" the judicial confirmation votes that include 31 emergency vacancies. The senators noted the number of emergency vacancies has increased from 12 emergency vacancies when Republicans first regained control of the Senate earlier this year. Since McConnell took the role of Senate majority leader, only five judicial nominee votes have been scheduled.

"Our country was founded upon the principals of individual liberty, justice, and equality in the eyes of the law. But the equal and fair application of justice is impossible to achieve in a courtroom without a judge. It's as simple as that," wrote the Democratic senators, including Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Dianne Feinstein of California, Al Franken of Minnesota, Charles Schumer of New York, and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

"You announced at the beginning of this Congress that the Republican leadership was ready to govern; we hope that you will live up to that commitment by allowing the Senate to proceed to votes on one of its key governance responsibilities: the confirmation of federal judges. As the Leader of the Senate, you have the power to alleviate this crisis or exacerbate it. We urge you to lead responsibly," the senators added, including Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Chris Coons of Delaware, Richard Durbin of Illinois, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.

Among the judicial nominees are Latinos including Dax Eric Lopez, John Michael Vazquez and Luis Felipe Restrepo. The five confirmed include Latinos Jose Rolando Olvera, Jr. and Kara Stoll Farnandez.

As Leahy noted, it took four months for the first judicial nominee vote to be scheduled. Referencing his time as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, Leahy said 26 judges were confirmed during the same several month timeframe in 2007 compared to the five confirmations in the current 114th Congress.

"These nominees are highly qualified and deserve better treatment from Senate Republicans," continued Leahy in an address in the Senate. "Of great concern is the treatment of Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo who will fill an emergency vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Pennsylvania. Judge Restrepo was unanimously confirmed two years ago by the Senate to serve as a district court judge. I have heard no objection to his nomination, yet it took seven months just to get him a hearing in the Judiciary Committee."

In Restrepo's case, Leahy acknowledged the bipartisan support he's received from Pennsylvania's senators and the unanimous voice vote the Judiciary Committee gave him. If confirmed, Restrepo would become the second Latino judge ever to serve on the Third Circuit, but the first one from Pennsylvania.

"Senate Republicans are the only thing holding up his nomination," added Leahy. "I know Senator [Patrick] Toomey can be a fierce advocate for issues he cares passionately about, and I hope he will get a firm commitment from the Majority Leader on a date for a vote on his confirmation."

McConnell has not indicated a specific date for the remaining judicial nominees, but some names including Restrepo are included in the Executive Calendar for once the Senate returns from summer break in September.

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