In a strongly worded letter released today Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Arlen Specter called upon Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy to hold hearings and confirm nominees:

The essence of the situation is that 15 circuit judges and 57 district court judges were confirmed in the last two years of President Clinton's Administration, compared to 6 circuit court and 34 district court judges for President Bush in 2007-2008. This means there must be confirmations or at least up-or-down votes on 9 additional circuit and 23 district court judges to equal President Clinton's record. . . . In addition, thus far in the 110th Congress, only 5 of President Bush's circuit court nominees have been granted hearings. By this date in President Clinton's final two years in office, the Committee had granted hearings for 10 Circuit Court Nominees. Until the hearing for Ms. Catharina Haynes on February 21, 2008, we had not had a circuit court hearing since September 25, 2007, some five months ago. [Emphasis added.]

Senator Specter concluded by calling Senator Leahy to task for scheduling the only hearing in the last five months during a Congressional recess and again asking to work with him to do his job:

I was surprised when you scheduled a hearing for Judge Catharina Haynes on February 21st during the recess. I know you offered to postpone that hearing for a relatively brief period of time, but a formal written request for a postponement would only have provided more grist for the argument mill on these issues. . . . I again urge you to work with me to establish a schedule for prompt consideration of all currently pending judicial nominees and ensure they receive up-or-down votes in Committee and on the Senate floor.