Comment Of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),

Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee,
On President Bush’s Intention To Make Nominations

For Vacant Positions In The Department Of Justice
November 15, 2007

  

“The exodus of so many top officials has left the Justice Department rudderless for many months.  The Department of Justice is the keystone of our system of justice, and these scandals have taken a heavy toll.  Attorney General Mukasey testified at his confirmation hearing that he understands the importance of restoring the Department’s independence and integrity, and the Senate will do all it can to help repair the damage that has been done.

 

“The White House has left these top posts at the Justice Department without nominees for far too long, which has compounded the damage to the Department’s morale and mission.  The Senate will act purposefully under its constitutional role to evaluate these nominations when we receive them to ensure that these vacancies can be filled, but also that they will be filled with nominees who are committed to restoring the independence and mission of the Justice Department.

 

“Yesterday I again invited the President to work with the Senate in filling judicial and Executive Branch vacancies.  We have succeeded this year in surpassing the total number of the President’s judicial nominees confirmed in either of the last two years by the previous Republican-led Senate and in dramatically lowering the number of outstanding judicial vacancies.  Yet we continue to wait for the President to send qualified, consensus nominees to the Senate for the more than 20 vacant U.S. Attorney positions around the country and for the 26 judicial vacancies – nine, that are judicial emergencies – that are without nominees.”