president, i call up executive calendar number 656 and 657, the nominations of judge albert diaz and judge james wynn to the united states court of appeals for the fourth circuit. let me tell you who they are. judge albert deyaz currently serves on north carolina's special superior court for complex business cases. he was reported out of the judiciary committee on january 28, 2010, by a vote of 19-0. he has served in the marine corps. he has nine years of state court judicial experience. judge james wynn was reported out of the judiciary committee the same day, january 28, 2010, by a vote of 18-1. he currently sits on the north carolina court of appeals, the state's intermediate appellate court. he is a certified military trial judge and a captain in the united states navy reserves. mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to executive session and notwithstanding rule 22, the senate proceed to executive calendar number 656 and 657, that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, that the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, that any statements relati

particular, my friend, senator whitehouse, noted the nomination of judge james winn, judge albert diaz to the fourth circuit. senator whitehouse hasn't been here since -- but since 2006, so he isn't familiar with some of the procedures that have gone on in our congress. wynn and diaz' nominations have been pending in the senate for only 167 days. that's half the time -- half the time -- that president bush's circuit court nominees waited. 350 days. in fact, four of president bush's nominees to the fourth circuit never received any hearing, and they were highly qualified nominees. those nominees, mr. steve matthews, chief judge robert conrad, judge glenn conrad, and former maryland united states attorney, rob rowenstein were well qualified, had bipartisan support of their home state senators, yet they were blocked steadfastly from ever moving forward. president bush nominated steve matthews in september of 2007 to the same seat on the fourth circuit for which judge diaz has now been nominated and expects to be confirmed and will be confirmed, i'm sure. but for them -- to hear whining ab