Supreme Court Nomination Stalls Over Confirmation Hearings and Filibuster

Senator Arlen Specter, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has expressed frustration over the stalled negotiations with Democrats regarding the confirmation hearings and final vote on Judge John G. Roberts' nomination to the Supreme Court. The main point of contention revolves around the timing of the confirmation hearings, with Specter seeking a commitment from Democrats to vote on Roberts by September 29, allowing him to be seated on October 3. Without such a commitment, the hearings are likely to begin on August 29. Democrats, on the other hand, are hesitant to agree to a vote deadline, fearing it would limit their ability to use a filibuster to block confirmation.

Key Takeaways:

• The confirmation hearings for Judge John G. Roberts are stalled due to disagreements over the timing and a potential filibuster.
• Senator Arlen Specter wants Democrats to commit to voting on Roberts by September 29, allowing him to be seated on October 3.
• Without a commitment to a vote deadline, the hearings are likely to begin on August 29.
• Democrats are hesitant to agree to a vote deadline, citing concerns over limiting their ability to use a filibuster.
• The White House has released thousands of documents on Roberts' work in the Justice Department in the 1980s, but Democrats are still demanding more information about his work in previous Republican administrations.
• The eight Democratic members of the Judiciary Committee have written the president, expressing disappointment over the White House's decision to limit access to documents.
• Scott McClellan, a White House spokesman, claims that the disclosure of documents "goes above and beyond what the Senate needs to do their job."

Statistics:

• 48 senators voted against the confirmation of Justice Clarence Thomas in 1991, enough to have sustained a filibuster.
• 52 senators voted in favor of Thomas' confirmation during the 1991 debate.
• The Senate Democratic members of the Judiciary Committee have eight members.
• The White House has released thousands of pages of documents on Roberts' work in the Justice Department in the 1980s.
• The Bush administration has released documents, but Democratic senators criticize the White House for not disclosing documents from Roberts' years in the administration of the first President Bush.

Sources:

• Senator Arlen Specter
• Senator Patrick J. Leahy
• Scott McClellan (White House spokesman)
• Charles E. Schumer (Senator from New York)
• Democratic strategists
• Eight Democratic members of the Judiciary Committee
• The New York Times article (no date specified)