Rudy Giuliani:

Judge Leslie Southwick is a distinguished and qualified candidate who deserves a fair up or down vote on the Senate floor. The Democrats' obstructionism is a disgrace and is an example of politics at its worst. Our courts should not be compromised because of partisans who are forgoing their Constitutional responsibilities in order to pursue a political agenda.

As President, I will work to ensure that all qualified judicial nominations receive a fair up or down vote.

http://www.joinrudy2008.com/news/pr/562

John McCain

Judge Southwick has distinguished himself as a state appellate court judge, a law professor, an attorney in private practice and as a senior Justice Department official. Most impressive to me however, and most revealing of his character, is Judge Southwick's military service. In 1992, almost 20 years after graduating from law school, Judge Southwick interrupted his successful career as an attorney in private practice and obtained an age waiver to join the United States Army Reserves Judge Advocate General's Corps. Ten years later, at age 53, Judge Southwick volunteered to transfer to the 155th Brigade Combat team of the Mississippi National Guard, a line combat unit that was deployed to Iraq in 2005. Judge Southwick's decision to join the Army is a model of self-sacrifice, and his actions helped to provide equal justice not only to American soldiers but also to the numerous Iraqi civilians whose cases he heard while stationed in Iraq.

Due to Judge Southwick's outstanding credentials and service to his country, I was disappointed to learn that this honorable veteran was not provided a vote on his nomination sooner. Even more disappointing to me is that some members of the Senate have made unsubstantiated statements concerning Judge Southwick's character. While it is appropriate to question and debate a nominee's qualifications, it is not appropriate to besmirch a nominee's character, or slander his name.

http://www.confirmthem.com/mccain_on_southwick

Mitt Romney

Qualified judicial nominees like Judge Leslie Southwick deserve an up or down vote by the full United States Senate. Instead of playing typical Washington games with nominees, Democrats must act to give Judge Southwick a fair up or down vote. The Senate should not abdicate its responsibilities in favor of partisan loyalties. Politics should not stand in the way of giving a qualified nominee a fair hearing and full Senate vote, just like the Constitution envisions.

www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Judge_Southwick

Fred Thompson

Sadly, Judge Southwick is just the latest in a long line of nominees for that bench to be delayed. President Bush's previous two nominees, Charles Pickering in 2004 and then Michael Wallace in 2006, were likewise filibustered by Senate Democrats. Some might think that seat cursed. In reality, it's just Democrats playing their usual partisan games with a Republican President's judicial nominations.

Judge Southwick's reward for being a qualified judge, and by all accounts a good citizen, is a Senatorial inquisition meant to besmirch his professional and personal reputation. No wonder it gets harder and harder to attract good people to serve in important public positions.

Judge Southwick should be confirmed.

http://fredfile.imwithfred.com/2007/judge-southwick-should-be-confirmed/

# posted by Jessica Smith @ 1:25 PM