GOP Blocked Judicial Nominees in Other Ways

In response to Brian McCabe’s critique (letter, May 8) of David Greenberg’s judicial nominee filibuster commentary (May 3): During Bill Clinton’s presidency the GOP did not have to resort to filibustering to keep the president’s nominees off the bench.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and the Republican majority on the Senate Judiciary Committee simply denied the nominees their right to a confirmation hearing before the committee. Thus, with nominations never getting out of committee, the use of a filibuster on the Senate floor became moot.

When President Bush professes indignation that his nominees deserve an “up or down vote,” someone should remind him that his own party did not afford his predecessor in the Oval Office this same courtesy.

Peter H. Crossin

Stevenson Ranch