Wells is new leader of lawyers' group

NEW YORK, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Newly seated American Bar Association President H. Thomas Wells Jr. says the lawyers' group will try to depoliticize the process for seating U.S. judges.

The Birmingham, Ala., lawyer said Monday at the ABA meeting in New York the nominating and confirmation process for federal judges "too often involves lengthy, partisan conflict and delay."

The ABA proposes that U.S. senators create bipartisan commissions in their states to vet prospective nominees to the U.S. District and the U.S. Courts of Appeals, Wells said. The commissions would suggest candidates the senators could then send along to the president for his consideration.

"This flexible approach does not outline particular steps or procedures to follow," said Wells. "That's best accomplished by the senators themselves."

The association also recommends the administration use a consultative process involving home state senators of both parties and Senate leadership before picking nominees, as well as emphasizing methods to shorten what has often proven to be a lengthy process.