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Posted on 11/18/2002 6:25:25 AM PST by The_Victor
WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats plan to take one last shot at blocking one of President Bush (news - web sites)'s judicial nominees while they still control the Senate, hoping to defeat the promotion of a former aide to retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond (news, bio, voting record).
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The Senate set aside most of Monday to debate the appeals court nomination of U.S. District Judge Dennis Shedd. While under its current Democratic control, the chamber has only debated an appeals court nomination when party leaders wanted to kill it.
Shedd is a former assistant to the 99-year-old Thurmond, who will retire in January. Thurmond, R-S.C., has asked for Shedd's promotion to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., before he ends his 48-year Senate career.
Democratic senators and liberal groups have criticized Shedd's ruling as a trial judge, saying he has been insensitive in civil rights and employment discrimination cases.
Republicans say Shedd has been a fine judge and lawyer, and should be confirmed as a retirement favor to Thurmond, the oldest and longest serving member of Congress.
None of Bush's judicial nominees has been voted down in the full Senate, although two were stopped in the Judiciary Committee (news - web sites).
The GOP takes control of the Senate when the 108th Congress convenes in January. Republican leaders say they will reconsider the two appeals court nominees that the committee voted down this year.
Liberal groups were incensed Thursday when the Judiciary Committee approved Shedd's nomination on a voice vote, the first time the panel has done that for a Bush appeals court nominee. Democrats control the committee 10-9, and could have killed the nomination for the year if all Democrats had officially voted against Shedd.
But outgoing committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., ruled that Shedd's proponents won the voice vote and didn't force a recorded vote.
The panel also approved Utah professor Michael McConnell for the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (news - web sites) in Denver by voice vote, over objections by groups opposing his outspoken opposition to abortion. The full Senate completed his confirmation Friday night without debate or a roll call vote.
The actions upset liberal activist groups.
"We are very disappointed that senators who voted for Judge Shedd were unable to put the interests of the American people, whom they were elected to serve, over their personal affection for a retiring colleague," said Nan Aron, president of the Alliance for Justice.
Wade Henderson, executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, said: "Senators who voted to confirm Dennis Shedd and Michael McConnell sent a clear signal to women, racial minorities, workers and consumers across America that their voices will not be heard."
The Senate has confirmed 99 of Bush's first 130 federal court nominations.
Heck, with all due respect to Sen. Thurmond and Judge Shedd, I hope the Dems are moronic enough to pull this junk again.
I'm sorry, but Shedd should be confirmed because he has been a fine judge and lawyer, not as some sort of going away present for Strom Thurmond.
Oooooooh!
Time to be scared!!!
If she loses, Zig Zag Zell may zog his way across the aisle. Mr. Breaux may also contemplate eternity in the minority and an administration job may not look so bad after all. It sure beats the 3rd stall down from Jeffords.
Breaux has a 48 ACU rating compared to Rino Macspecter's 42 and Chafee's 44.
Ummm, doesn't the GOP "take control" in about a week when Talent is sworn in?
How odd and hypocritical of the rats to dump judges on the basis of anything other than #1)Do they swear to and uphold the Constitution of the United States, #2)The previous rulings of said judge with respect to #1 above, and #3)A background check including their criminal record, credit history, and their willingness to adhere to the same laws that are forced upon little people.
If Shedd is voted down in the lame duck session, can't he simply be renominated?
Looking forward to some more GOP gavel-wielders!
Stay well- Stay safe - stay armed - Yorktown
I'll provide my best understanding.
Shedd was not brought up for a vote (a brake of Lehey's promise to Thurmond). Now they approve on voice vote (all democRATs voting against, but Lehey declaring that the ayes have it. Debate will be on the floor of the Senate, obstructing other work, and as the author says, the only reason for debate is to kill the nomination, otherwise they are voted up or down by the full Senate. If I understand the procedures correctly, once voted down by the full Senate, the nominee cannot be brought back some significant period of time (I'm not sure about this).
Senate rules are always clear as mud.
I thought the same thing when I read that. This is almost guaranteed to be the author's take on the Republican's defense of Shedd.
democRAT governor of Missouri will not certify the election until after the lame duck session is over.
If the Committee votes you down yes. When the entire Senate votes, and you lose, you may not be renominated for that seat.
Baloney. The weasels didn't want their individual names recorded and reported in the "Nay" column.
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