The Gang of 14 Accomplished Nothing

We heard that the Gang of 14 was a bipartisan group that would help change the way judges were moved through the Senate. Unfortunately, as the WSJ points out (sub'n may be required), the prospect for new judge confirmations has never been worse.

Since the beginning of the year, the Senate has confirmed a total of four nominees to the federal circuit courts -- including Democrat Helene White, whose appointment to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals was part of a compromise with Bush nominee Raymond Kethledge. The confirmation of Judge Steven Agee on the Fourth Circuit was likewise the product of a deal between Virginia Senators Jim Webb and John Warner, displacing the nomination of highly respected nominee Duncan Getchell, who withdrew in frustration at the interminable wait.

According to the Committee for Justice, the average number of days from nomination to confirmation for circuit court nominees has risen to 348 days during the Bush Administration from an average of 238 days under President Clinton. Nominations by Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan made it through in an average of 69 days each.

And of course, Harry Reid told the ridiculous lie in June when he said Senate Democrats would "treat President Bush's judicial nominees with more respect than President Clinton's received from a Republican Senate."

But no one wants to hold the Democrat-led Senate responsible for anything.