SAMPLE LETTER TO SENATORS & MEMBERS OF SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Dear Senator

I am deeply concerned that the Senate 's "Advise and Consent" role under the Constitution is being abused in the handling of the President's judicial nominees.

Members of both parties have acknowledged that sitting presidents have both a right and a duty to fill judicial vacancies, appoint jurists who share their views, and staff their administrations as they see fit. Yet, this principle is not being fairly applied to those who have recently come before the Senate for confirmation.

With over 100 vacancies on the federal bench, it is highly inappropriate that the judicial nominees now before the Senate are being delayed by partisan wrangling. I call upon you to publicly speak out against, and vigorously oppose, any unconstitutional practices that may be employed to obstruct this important process, such as applying ideological litmus tests to judicial candidates.

President Bush has reached out in a bipartisan fashion. He has said he is committed to appointing men and women to the federal courts who are not only well-qualified, but those who honor the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law by exercising judicial restraint and properly leaving the legislative function to the House and Senate. I fully support this course of action and ask that you do the same.

I urge you to cast your vote for presidential appointees based on this criteria, and ask that you further use your full influence amongst your colleagues to ensure that all future nominees will be expeditiously considered and confirmed solely on the basis of their competency, not along party lines.

Sincerely,

SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
The Honorable (Senator)
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Senate Judiciary Committee Info — http://judiciary.senate.gov/

**NOTE: For those who reside in the home states of Democratic Senators Breaux, Byrd, Conrad, Dodd, Dorgan, Feingold, Miller and Nelson, thank them for choosing principle over party in their vote to confirm Atty.General John Ashcroft, and ask that they lobby their fellow Democrats to do the same for President Bush's judicial nominees.