Republicans Blast Senate Dem for 'Trashing' Judge's Reputation -- GOPUSA

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Republicans Blast Senate Dem for 'Trashing' Judge's Reputation
By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Morning Editor
May 13, 2005

Page 2 of 2

CFIF said Americans should expect better behavior from the Senate minority leader. "And Senator Reid should know better than to stand on the floor of the U.S. Senate and slander a nominee to the federal bench just to score political points."

CFIF said it would like to know how Sen. Reid gained access to Judge Saad's FBI file in the first place.

Judge Saad's supporters praise his integrity, intellect, thoughtfulness and fair-mindedness.

But the liberal opponents, such as People for the American Way, said Saad's record "raises troubling questions in the areas of workers' rights [sexual harassment cases] and consumer rights, and also reflects a willingness to engage in judicial activism, for which his colleagues have appropriately criticized him."

Democrat Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan have opposed the nominations of the four Michigan judges, partly because Republicans blocked President Clinton's nominees to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (including the wife of Levin's cousin).

The Senate doesn't change its rules lightly, but filibusters have never been applied to judicial nominations until President Bush took office, and that's created the current quandary.

Many Republicans say it is unconstitutional to require a 60-vote test for judges (60 votes are needed to end a filibuster), rather than the simple majority (51 votes) that the Constitution requires for confirmation.

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