White House Hopes For At Least 17 More Judicial Confirmations

White House officials today said it appears that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy is ready to move on stalemated federal court nominations following yesterday's Senate confirmation of Idaho State Judge Norman Randy Smith for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

"We're hopeful we can get the average number done," said one Bush official. The White House has pressed Senate leaders to let the president win confirmation of some 17 U.S. Circuit Court judges before the end of his term. White House officials have studied the nominations approved in the last two years of past two-term presidents and found that the average is 17. As a result, they are seeking at least that many confirmations, though there are indications that the White House will add many more to the pending list.

Officials also said that they feel confident Leahy will push at least one nominee through his committee a month. A Bush aide also said that the president hopes to get one more chance to install a conservative on the U.S. Supreme Court, but ne noted that would likely result in an extended fight that could hold up other nominees.

By Paul Bedard