Bush Ready To Battle Over Judges

A major political battle looms now that President Bush has re-submitted a group of judicial nominations that ran into fierce Democratic opposition in his first term.

The president yesterday sent the Senate a package of 12 appeals court and eight circuit court nominees -- and urged prompt action.

"Every judicial nominee deserves a prompt hearing and an up-or-down vote on the floor of the United States Senate," Mr. Bush said at the swearing in of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

The Democrats' ability to stall White House picks for the federal bench was one of the most contentious issues of Mr. Bush's first term. With a Senate comprised of 55 Republicans, 44 Democrats and a Democrat-leaning independent, Democrats still have the 40 votes necessary to uphold a filibuster.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has threatened to try to change Senate rules to force confirmation votes if Democrats carry out their filibuster threats.

"We need to restore the tradition of giving advice and consent, and that means having a nominee coming from the president to us with majority support be allowed a vote, an up-or-down vote — vote against, vote for, but allowed a vote," he said on Fox News Sunday.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., called Bush's renominations regrettable.

"The president looks like he is still more interested in picking fights than picking judges," Kennedy said. "The last thing the federal courts need is reactionary judges bent on rolling back basic constitutional rights."

Mr. Bush sent back 12 nominees for the U.S. Courts of Appeals. They are: