Senate Proceeding on Oct 21st, 2009 :: 2:48:25 to 2:54:10
Total video length: 10 hours 20 minutes Stream Tools: Stream Overview | Edit Time

Note: MetaVid video transcripts may contain inaccuracies, help us build a more perfect archive

Download OptionsEmbed Video

Views:32 Duration: 0:05:45 Discussion

Previous speech:

Next speech:

2:48:25 to 2:54:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Benjamin L. Cardin

2:48:26 to 2:48:47( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: quorum call: quorum call: mr. cardin: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. cardin: and, mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that during debate on these nominees, that all time during recess --

2:48:48 to 2:49:08( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: during quorum call be -- and recess be charged equally to the majority and minority side. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. cardin: thank you, mr. president. i take this time to bring to the attention of my colleagues the affect that these in most cases holds, these anonymous holds that are being placed by senators on judicial

2:49:09 to 2:49:30( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: appointments, are having on the lives of individuals and on the effectiveness of the judicial branch of government. so far, president obama has nominated four circuit court judges that are awaiting confirmation. one of those is andre davis to the fourth circuit of maryland. i mention his name because he

2:49:31 to 2:49:52( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: was appointed by president obama early this year. the judiciary committee held a hearing in april of this year. in june, the judiciary committee recommended his confirmation by a strong bipartisan vote of 16-3. and, mr. president, when we finally get a chance to vote on

2:49:53 to 2:50:13( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: judge davis for confirmation to the court of appeals circuit court, i am confident it's going to be a lopsided vote among the members of the senate. and yet we've been denied the opportunity to confirm his appointment because some senators put a.

2:50:14 to 2:50:35( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: and every time we try to get a time agreement which everybody says is reasonable, there's an objection. and i don't believe it's aimed at judge davis. i believe it's a strategy by republican colleagues to just -- to slow down the confirmation process of judges. i don't know why. i really don't understand when you have audge who's quality

2:50:36 to 2:50:56( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: qualified, who's not controversial, why would we deny the judicial branch of government the judges they need in order to carry out their responsibility? why would we put people through this process of waiting for the united states senate to confirm when it's clear that the overwhelming majority are in suppt of the confirmation?

2:50:57 to 2:51:19( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: no judge davis i think presents an example. so let me try to put a face on it. you hear the numbers. you hear the statistics. but each one of those holds represent another person being denied the opportunity to serve as a judge. judge davis has an extremely long and distinguished career in the maryland legal community.

2:51:20 to 2:51:44( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: he graduated from the university of pennsylvania cu laude and with a j.d. degree from the university of maryland school of law, where he still teaches classes as a faculty member. he's been a member, a judge on the district court of maryland since 1995, which he was confirmed by the united states senate.

2:51:45 to 2:52:05( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: he has a long career, 22 years as a district court judge. he's literally presided over thousands of cases, and many have these have gone to and judgment. and his record is one in which lawyers and his colleagues on

2:52:06 to 2:52:26( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: the well-balanced, as a judge who understands the responsibilities of the judicial branch of government. he tries to call the cases as -- as the law dick a law dictates, and there is absolutely no blemish on his record as a trial judge.

2:52:27 to 2:52:47( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: he's been praised by maryland lawyers as even, handed, fair and open-minded. he's received the well-qualified rating from the american bar association standing cothe judiciary. he will add diversity to the fourth circuit and when confirmed, he will be the third afghan american judge to serve --

2:52:48 to 2:53:09( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: to serve on the fourth circuit. mr. president, i bring to your attention and to my colleagues' attention judge davis because we've got to bring an end to these holds where a why is being held not because he's controversial, not because there's a problem, not because you want aitional information, but just to slow down the process. that's wrong. that's an abuse of the

2:53:10 to 2:53:30( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: responsibilities each one of us have, the power each senator has. and i think it's important that we all speak out, whether we're democrats or republicans. it's just wrong. it's time to move these nominations to the floor of the united states senate and to have votes up or down on these nominees. so i urge my colleagues to let

2:53:31 to 2:53:51( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: us get on with the we were elected to do, to advise and consent the president on his appointments. if we have a problem with an appointment, let's speak out against it and let's have that type of a debate. but delay not befitting the united states senate. and i urge my colleagues to allow these appointments to go forward with up-or-down votes on the floor of the united states senate.

2:53:52 to 2:54:06( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: with that, mr. president, i would y the will call the roll.