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September 2003
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Email This PageExcerpts from the Press Briefing by Scott McClellan, September 16, 2003 (Full Transcript)
QUESTION: Thank you, Scott. Yesterday, the judicial activists of the Ninth Circuit struck again. Last week, Miguel Estrada withdrew his nomination in the face of unprecedented and prolonged filibusters by Democrats in the Senate. Is the President considering recess appointments to end what has become a judicial and constitutional crisis?MR. McCLELLAN: Recess appointments for judicial nominees? One, we're not in recess. The President is committed to the nominees that he has put forward. In terms of Miguel Estrada, it was disappointing, but understandable that he would withdraw his name after that lengthy process. People are politicizing the judicial process, and vacancies remain. We need to fill those vacancies. The President has appointed very qualified people, including Miguel Estrada. And the Senate needs to give those nominees an up or down vote. It's very outrageous that they are playing politics with judicial nominees. It's unprecedented.
