Holder urges Senate speed on judicial nods

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- A convoluted Senate confirmation process is keeping experienced, motivated jurists off federal court benches nationwide, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says.

Holder, writing in The Washington Post, says nominee after nominee has languished in the Senate for many months only to be confirmed by wide bipartisan margins when they finally do receive a vote.

Currently 23 judicial nominees are enduring long delays while awaiting up-or-down votes, even though 16 of them received unanimous bipartisan approval in the Judiciary Committee.

"The confirmation process is so twisted in knots that we are losing ground -- there are more vacancies today than when President Obama took office," Holder said.

The federal judicial system "is stressed to the breaking point" by the unfilled vacancies, he said.

There are 103 judicial vacancies -- nearly one in eight seats on the bench, Holder said.

In 2005, Holder said, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. -- who was majority leader at the time -- called on Congress to return to the way the Senate operated for over 200 years, and give nominees who have majority support in the Senate an up-or-down floor vote.

"I agree. It's time to address the crisis in our courts," Holder said. "It's time to confirm these judges."