In January, Judge Leslie Southwick received a presidential nomination to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. For 10 months, his Senate confirmation has been on hold.
Southwick was first stalled by committee Democrats responding to the slanderous accusations of third-party groups. The Senate is now out on a weeklong break, which will postpone the vote again until mid-October, at the earliest.
Republicans are concerned the Democrats may filibuster a vote on Southwick — unusual, considering the majority party would be filibustering itself. Although promised a floor vote before the Columbus Day recess, Southwick's Republican supporters are using the delay to lobby Democratic colleagues and collect the 60 votes required to end a filibuster.
Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., said they have some commitments from Democrats, but they are unsure if they have enough, reported The Clarion Ledger.
In the meantime, the caseload is stacking up, and the 5th Circuit is in need of a highly qualified judge. Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said Southwick fits the bill.
“Southwick has been a state court judge for several years and has participated in more than 7,000 cases,” he said. “In fact, his American Bar Association rating is a unanimous ‘well qualified,’ which is the highest rating that the ABA can give a judicial nominee.
“A ‘Yes’ vote for Southwick is a vote for decency and fairness in judicial nominations.”
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