Despite
the long-standing practice of giving deference to home-state many senators are
refusing to give Judge Leslie Southwick a fair up-or-down vote in the full
Senate even though both senators from Mississippi
(Trent Lott and Thad Cochran) strongly support his nomination. The Senate
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell spoke out against the apparent “double
standard” in video posted below.
Below are
some relevant quotes helpfully provided by Senator McConnell’s staff:
On Judge
Southwick:
“Extremely
Well Qualified.” “Leslie is extremely well qualified for this position, and
I hope his nomination will move quickly throughout the Judiciary Committee
without any significant delays. … He will be a fair and thoughtful federal
judge, and our state will benefit from his leadership and knowledge of the
law.”
-Sen. Cochran, “Cochran, Lott
Announce Nomination Of Judge Leslie Southwick To The 5th Circuit Court Of Appeals,”
Press Release, 01/09/07
“Will
Serve The 5th Circuit With Distinction.” “I'm pleased the President
nominated a Mississippian, Judge Leslie Southwick, to serve on the 5th Circuit
Court of Appeals. … It's very important that our state have a presence on this
key federal court. Given his educational qualifications and prior judicial
experience, I'm confident that Judge Southwick will serve the 5th Circuit with
distinction.”
-Sen. Cochran, “Cochran, Lott
Announce Nomination Of Judge Leslie Southwick To The 5th Circuit Court Of
Appeals,” Press Release, 01/09/07
On
previous Senate practice:
“Now,
with Democrats in control, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy,
D-Vermont, has said the views of home-state senators will be honored to a
greater degree.”
-Scott MacKay, “Chafee’s Choice For Federal Judge Rankles
His Onetime Friend,” The Providence Journal, 01/20/07
“He
(Leahy) noted that, in his 30 years as a Judiciary Committee member, he usually
has deferred to a nominee's home state senators.”
-Mississippi
Briefs, Judicial Nominee Vote Delayed Again, The Clarion Ledger, 6/8/07
“Judge
Paez has the strong support of both California
Senators … [Marsha Berzon] has the strong support of both California Senators… The Senate should be
fair and vote on these nominations.”
-Sen. Leahy, Congressional Record,
S13544-5, 10/29/99
“I
have given my word that these two nominees should at least have the opportunity
for a vote.”
-Sen. Lott, Congressional Record,
S.1225, 03/07/00