BILL REQ. #:  S-3688.1 

Read first time 01/22/2004.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     TO THE HONORABLE PATTY MURRAY AND THE HONORABLE MARIA CANTWELL:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution states the President "shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States"; and
     WHEREAS, The administrative Office of the United States Courts has classified twenty-two judgeships as "judicial emergencies"; and
     WHEREAS, Forty-three of President George W. Bush's judicial nominees are pending before the United States Senate; and
     WHEREAS, Sixty-three percent of President Bush's Court of Appeals nominations have been to fill seats classified as judicial emergencies; and
     WHEREAS, Forty-two percent of President Bush's District Court nominations have been to fill seats classified as judicial emergencies; and
     WHEREAS, A minority of senators have used dilatory tactics to prevent a Senate floor vote on six of President Bush's judicial nominees, all of whom where reported favorably by the Committee on the Judiciary; and
     WHEREAS, Each of President Bush's judicial nominees reported favorably by the Committee on the Judiciary enjoys the support of a majority of the United States Senate, as is required by the United States Constitution;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that our United States Senators work to allow a timely vote on the floor of the United States Senate on all judicial nominations.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Patty Murray and the Honorable Maria Cantwell.