Obama downplays concerns over judicial nominees

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is downplaying concerns raised by a senior Republican senator about the pace of the confirmation of judges.

In a letter released Wednesday, Obama tells Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) that his concerns about confirming a number of appeals court nominees will be settled by two senior Democrats — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (Vt.). Specter had contacted all of the presidential candidates on the issue last week.

{mosads}"The concerns you have raised in your letter are important ones," Obama said. "However, since I am not a member of the Judiciary Committee, I would defer to Chairman Leahy on the scheduling of any committee votes on these pending nominations, and I would defer to Sen. Reid on the scheduling of any floor votes."

Obama said both sides were working to confirm President Bush's nominees to fill lifetime seats on appeals courts, pointing to a deal reached Tuesday to fill seats on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Democrats signaled they would confirm a Bush nominee for the 6th Circuit in exchange for his decision to nominate Helene N. White for the Michigan seat on the court.

Republicans have been increasingly critical of the pace of confirmations, saying the seven confirmed this Congress is far fewer than the 15 the Republican-controlled Senate confirmed in the final two years of the Clinton administration. The GOP has signaled that it would tie up the floor to gain leverage in the fight, and Reid said Tuesday he would try to confirm three more Bush judges before Memorial Day if Republicans allowed a pending highway bill to advance.

Still, Obama's statements did not go far enough for Specter, who criticized him for deferring to Leahy and Reid. Leahy is a prominent supporter of Obama's campaign, and Reid is one of the most influential uncommitted superdelegates.

Only Obama has so far responded to Specter’s letters.