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

Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee,

On The President’s Nomination Of Judge Glen E. Conrad

To Serve On The Fourth Circuit Court Of Appeals

May 8, 2008

 

WASHINGTON (Thursday, May 8, 2008) – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) commended the President Thursday for heeding the recommendation of Virginia Senators John Warner (R) and Jim Webb (D) by sending to the Senate the nomination of Glen E. Conrad to fill the second Virginia vacancy on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.  The nomination comes after years of contentiousness and failed nominations for the Fourth Circuit, including those of Jim Haynes, Claude Allen and, most recently, Duncan Getchell, whose nomination was withdrawn in January after Warner and Webb publicly expressed their opposition.  Conrad is currently a district court judge in the Western District of Virginia, a seat he has held since 2003.  The Judiciary Committee last week held a hearing for another nominee to the Fourth Circuit from Virginia, Steven Agee.  Judge Conrad’s nomination follows recent breakthroughs on the Sixth Circuit and the Fourth Circuit, where longstanding impasses dating back to the Clinton administration have prevented confirmations.  Leahy’s comments follow:

 

“Today’s nomination of Judge Glen Conrad for a Virginia seat on the Fourth Circuit is another example of the progress that can be made when the President works with the Senate.  I commend Senator Warner and Senator Webb for their hard work in resolving the impasse over Virginia seats on the Fourth Circuit.  Progress was long coming, but I commend the President for now taking the advice of Senator Warner and Senator Webb.  In doing so, the President may have cleared the way for the Senate to consider another nominee in the short time remaining to us this year.  I hope all Senators, Republicans and Democrats, will join with me to build on the progress we have already made.”

 

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