Judicial fight ties up Senate

WASHINGTON, June 5 (UPI) -- U.S. Senate Republicans used delaying tactics to protest inaction on presidential judicial nominees, stretching a session into early Thursday morning.

The battle, led on each side by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., came after Republicans forced Senate clerks to read a 500-page amendment to a climate change bill in protest, The Hill reported.

GOP leadership tried to press Reid for a commitment to confirm 15 nominees.

Reid said Democrats and White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten reached agreement to move a package of presidential nominees, but Senate Republicans were unhappy with the deal, The Hill said. McConnell allowed the package to be approved by the Senate after receiving assurances the Judiciary Committee would consider three court nominees within the next few weeks, the Washington publication reported.

McConnell said Reid backed away from earlier assurances to approve 15 circuit court nominees and hold confirmation votes for three nominees before the Memorial Day recess.

"That commitment should be kept for the good of the institution," McConnell said.

McConnell raised the specter of reprisals should Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., become president, The Hill said.

"I think the adults on the other side of the aisle (know) this is a precedent that ought not to be set," McConnell said.