Withdrawal of Judicial Nominees Tied to Obstruction
But Bush Won't Give Dems Veto Over Nominee Selection
WASHINGTON, DC - The Committee for Justice (CFJ), which promotes constitutionalist judicial nominees and the rule of law, today reacted to the news that Terrence Boyle, William Haynes, and William Myers have declined to be renominated. "Given Senate Democrats' endless campaign of obstruction and personal attacks on the President's judicial nominees while in the minority - as well as their partisan rhetoric on judges since the election - it is understandable that Haynes, Myers, and Boyle have asked not to be renominated, despite the President's willingness to do so," said CFJ executive director Curt Levey. "However, Democrats like Senator Chuck Schumer are dead wrong if they think that today's withdrawals signal that the President is ready to give Democrats a veto over who he nominates."
Levey added "It is a sad day for those who care about the quality and integrity of the federal judiciary, because Democratic senators and their allies on the Left have effectively defeated highly qualified nominees who would have been confirmed if they had ever been given a fair, up-or-down vote in the Senate. The shameful treatment of these nominees will make it harder for President Bush and his successors to recruit the nation's best and brightest attorneys for the federal judiciary. Thus, it's vital that Senate Democrats treat the President's current and future judicial nominees more fairly, including given them an up or down vote in an expeditious manner."
Levey noted that "President Bush is well aware that Senate Democrats may continue to put partisan politics on judges above the health of the federal judiciary. But they should have no illusions that the President will flinch from selecting exceptionally qualified nominees who believe judges should interpret the laws rather than legislating from the bench. This has been the President's judicial philosophy since the 2000 campaign, and it won't change in the face of a Democrat majority in the Senate."