Republicans: Democrats “playing politics” over judicial nominee

A group of Republican Senators headed by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) chastised Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) for what they viewed as “playing politics with a judicial nomination. The nomination of Judge Robert Conrad to be on the fourth district circuit court of appeals is currently being held up by Sen. Leahy who has yet to give Judge Conrad a hearing.

The Senate Republicans which included Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.), Sen Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah.) all focused their attention on the lack of fairness that they view towards Judge Conrad. Hatch, who has been in the senate 32 years, said that because both Senators Dole and Burr are supporting Judge Conrad that holding a hearing should not even be an issue.

“Judge Conrad has the support of both the senators (from North Carolina) that doesn’t happen all that often.” Hatch added that by the senates judiciary committee not holding a hearing it “denigrates the judicial process.”

A key sticking point that infuriated Republicans was that the hearing has been in limbo for now 338 days, a testament to the strife that is currently on going in the Senate. When asked what she viewed as the reason for the hold up Sen. Dole said that it must have “something to do with politics.”

Judge Robert Conrad was nominated by President Bush 338 days ago to be seated on the North Carolina fourth circuit court of appeals. Conrad has previously been confirmed by the Senate to be a U.S. Attorney in 2001 and has been unanimously rated “well qualified” by the American Bar Association.