Republican Members Representing the 4th Circuit Call on Senate to Confirm Judicial Nominees
Republican Members Representing the 4th Circuit Call on Senate to Confirm Judicial Nominees
Washington, D.C. — Today, 21 Republican Members of the U.S. House of Representatives called on Senate Democrats to schedule hearings for the Fourth Circuit judicial nominees. In a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, the House Members—who represent constituents in the Fourth Circuit—urged Senate Democrats to give the nominees an up-or-down vote.
According to the letter, the 21 Members believe that their constituents are paying the price for the judicial vacancies “as they see their cases delayed because there are not enough judges to handle the caseload on the Fourth Circuit.”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has a current vacancy rate of 33 percent; the nonpartisan Judicial Conference has found three of these vacancies to be “judicial emergencies.” One of the seats, based in North Carolina, has been vacant for over 13 years.
Statements from several of the Members are below:
Representative Gresham Barrett (R-SC): “An up or down vote on the Senate floor must be scheduled to fill the judicial vacancies for the Fourth Circuit. The Senate’s inaction to fill these spots is affecting the justice system in five of our home states by stalling necessary court proceedings. I strongly suggest the Senate consider the President’s four nominations for the vacancies in the U.S. Court of Appeals.”
Representative Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV): “With five judicial vacancies unfulfilled, the vacancy rate in the 4th Circuit is completely unacceptable. Nonpartisan observers are calling this situation a judicial emergency, yet the Senate has chosen to stall four pending nominees. West Virginians who rely on our federal courts deserve better, and the Senate has a responsibility to act.”
Representative Howard Coble (R-NC): “Chief Judge Robert Conrad, who was nominated to fill the vacancy in North Carolina, is a longtime friend of mine and extremely qualified to fill this position. To leave a seat vacant for more than 5,000 days is a travesty. The people of North Carolina and the Fourth Circuit deserve better. I urge the Senate to move on this and other vacancies expeditiously.”
Representative Tom Davis (R-VA): “The citizens of Virginia and the rest of the nation deserve to have their day in court. This is not easy when we allow a third of the seats in the 4th Circuit to remain vacant. It’s time to put practicality over politics and address this situation.”
Representative Thelma Drake (R-VA): “Citizens need to be assured that justice is being served and that their needs are being met. Failure to fill these vacancies does not serve the public. I encourage the committee to make the effort to fill these vacancies quickly.”
Representative Walter Jones (R-NC): “Many people in North Carolina rely on our federal courts, yet the Fourth Circuit seat based in North Carolina has been vacant for more than 5,000 days. The Senate’s refusal to hold a vote on President Bush’s four nominees to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is completely unacceptable. Due to the Senate’s inaction, our citizens continue to suffer as cases get delayed because there are not enough judges to handle the Fourth Circuit caseload. My constituents deserve better.”
Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC): “By playing partisan politics with the judiciary, Senate Democrats are depriving the people of the Fourth Circuit their right to justice. They need to stop playing games and do their jobs.”
Representative Sue Myrick (R-NC): “The people in North Carolina, who are served by the Fourth Circuit, deserve better. We need these judicial spots filled so that people can get justice; not a waiting line because we don’t have enough judges to hear the cases.”
Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC): “There is no doubt that the Fourth Circuit Court nominees are qualified. Their nominations should not be held up by political inaction. More importantly, the citizens of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, and my home state of South Carolina should not have their right to justice undermined because some in the Senate refuse to do their job.”
Representative Robert Wittman (R-VA): “Nominations to the 4th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals have been languishing for far too long. In fact, almost half of the total Circuit Court of Appeals vacancies are in the 4th Circuit. I am hopeful that the confirmation hearing for G. Steven Agee of Virginia will take place on May 7 as scheduled by the Senate Judiciary Committee and that the Senate will act quickly on all pending nominations.”
The Fourth Circuit hears cases from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Today’s letter was signed by every single Republican member from the states that comprise the Fourth Circuit.
Click here to view the Fourth Circuit letter.
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