“The fate of this Republic absolutely depends upon judicial integrity,” Franks said.  “The very rule of law is at stake here. I applaud the valiant efforts of the Senate majority in this crucial battle to stop liberal Democrats from taking America down the hopeless road of judicial oligarchy.”

This year, due to Democrat filibusters, Miguel Estrada, Priscilla Owen, William Pryor, and Charles Pickering have failed to receive a vote on their nominations, even though they all had majority support.  Prior to this year, the record number of cloture votes on a judge was two.  On D.C. Circuit Court nominee Miguel Estrada, the Senate had seven cloture votes before he withdrew his name from consideration.

“President Bush has nominated individuals to the bench who will read the law for what it says, rather than writing the law from the bench.  The U.S. Senate owes these nominees a straight up-or-down vote.  This insidious filibuster by liberal Democrats in the Senate is unprecedented in the history of this nation.  Miguel Estrada withdrew his nomination after the Senate Democrats refused to allow a fair vote for nearly two years.  This was a profound tragedy and a disgrace upon those in the Senate who savaged this decent man.”