Excerpts from The
Hill online magazine:
With just 16
months left until President Bush leaves the Oval Office, there are 48 vacancies
on the federal district and appellate courts, and Bush has yet to nominate
judges for 24 of those seats.
…
Republicans
say if Democrats continue to block Southwick and other qualified nominees, they
will spotlight the “obstruction” in the run-up to the election, an issue that
plays well with and energizes the conservative base. And some blame sprawling
Democratic investigations into the Justice Department and other aspects of the
administration for slowing down the White House’s process in finding suitable
nominees.