Judge Deserves Rousing Approval

Perhaps this week the full Senate will finally take up the nomination of Judge Richard Paez to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. With a decisive vote to confirm Paez, the Senate can redeem itself after its disgraceful treatment of this worthy jurist.

Paez, since 1964 a federal district judge in Los Angeles, was first nominated for the appellate bench by President Clinton more than four years ago. No nominee in memory has waited longer for a confirmation vote, a reflection on the Senate.

The first time the Senate Judiciary Committee considered his nomination, it refused to act, and the second time it voted approval, only to have the nomination die when Senate leaders refused to call an up-or-down vote. Last July, the panel once again forwarded Paez’s name to the Senate, with committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) and one other Republican supporting the judge. But not until November did Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) agree to set a Senate vote for March. Now March is upon us and Lott says he will deliver on his promise of a floor vote.

On the bench and before that as an attorney, Paez, a 52-year-old Latino, has earned a reputation for being thoughtful, fair and committed to civil rights. He would be an asset to the circuit court.

Republican leaders, whose treatment of Paez and other nominees stems from their deep animus toward President Clinton, are now anxious to cast themselves as an inclusive lot after divisive debates over religion and race in the presidential primary campaigns. A resounding vote to confirm Judge Paez is a good place to start.