Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who chairs the Judiciary Committee, urged his Republican colleagues Tuesday to give President Barack Obama's eventual nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens a speedy and congenial confirmation.
"The Senate and the Judiciary Committee are preparing to consider President Obama's nominee to succeed Justice Stevens, and I hope the pattern of delay and obstruction, [which] has been so evident in this Congress, will not affect the Commitee's fair and prompt consideration of the president's nominee," said Leahy during a press briefing.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who appeared alongside Leahy, expressed his disappointment that other key judicial nominees whose confirmations have been stalled.
"The delay is perplexing because most of these nominees are non-controversial and it's no accident that so little controversy surrounds them because President Obama selects judges who are clearly in the mainstream," Schumer said.
Stevens, who announced his retirement Friday, will leave the Court this summer. His decision gives Obama the chance to appoint his second Supreme Court Justice. In 2009, Obama appointed Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Leahy Asks Republicans To Give Eventual Supreme Court Nominee A Swift Confirmation
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who chairs the Judiciary Committee, urged his Republican colleagues Tuesday to give President Barack Obama's eventual nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens a speedy and congenial confirmation.
"The Senate and the Judiciary Committee are preparing to consider President Obama's nominee to succeed Justice Stevens, and I hope the pattern of delay and obstruction, [which] has been so evident in this Congress, will not affect the Commitee's fair and prompt consideration of the president's nominee," said Leahy during a press briefing.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who appeared alongside Leahy, expressed his disappointment that other key judicial nominees whose confirmations have been stalled.
"The delay is perplexing because most of these nominees are non-controversial and it's no accident that so little controversy surrounds them because President Obama selects judges who are clearly in the mainstream," Schumer said.
Stevens, who announced his retirement Friday, will leave the Court this summer. His decision gives Obama the chance to appoint his second Supreme Court Justice. In 2009, Obama appointed Justice Sonia Sotomayor.