Petition Drive Urges Senate to Change Its Rules
By: Administrative Account | Source: CNSNews.com
April 11, 2005 8:09PM EST

By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Morning Editor
April 11, 2005

(CNSNews.com) - A conservative civil liberties group is pressuring Senate Republican leaders to stop the "crippling" use of filibusters against judicial nominees.

The ACLJ said its petition to end judicial filibusters will reach hundreds of thousands of Americans.

"The use of the judicial filibuster is an obstructionist tactic designed to prevent full consideration of nominees -- a move that violates the Constitution," said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice.

The Constitution says the Senate must provide advice and consent regarding the President's judicial nominees, but judicial filibusters block that attempt, the ACLJ's petition says.

"The Senate clearly has the authority to amend its own rules and take the action necessary to end the unconstitutional use of the judicial filibuster, which prevents up-or-down votes on President Bush's judicial nominees," Sekulow said.

The ACLJ notes that every judicial nominee who has been filibustered would be confirmed by a simple majority vote -- if the nomination were to make it to the full Senate for a vote.

"It's clear the American people understand the importance of the judiciary and understand that the filibuster is not only wrong, but represents the worst of partisan politics as well," Sekulow said.

The ACLJ said it has provided legal memoranda to Senate Republicans, urging them to change the rule that requires 60 votes to cut off a filibuster.

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