. >> at this event yesterday white house council robert bauer called the number of current judicial vacancy an emergency situation. he took part in the judicial discussion process hosted by the american constitution society. from the national press club in washington, this is an hour and a half. >> policymakers, law professors and law students it promotes the vitality of our constitution and its fundamental values, individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, access to justice, democracy, and the rule of law. acs has worked to draw attention to the federal judicial vacancy crisis. the senate confirmed only 62 of president barack obama's judicial nominees in the past two years. compared to 100 for george w. bush and 128 for bill clinton during the first two years of their presidencies. we have 875 federal judgeships and we now have 101 vacancies. that's an extraordinarily high number. 49 of those vacancies are described as judicial emergencies. most recently the tragic deaths of john roll brought attention to this crisis. he was at the safeway in tucson to talk with gabbie giffords abo

during this discussion, robert bauer expressed his concern over the number of judicial vacancies. you also hear remarks from caroline lamb and president clinton's deputy white house counsel william marshall. this is 1.5 hours. we are a network of lawyers, judges, and law students that promotes the vitality of our constitution and its fundamental values. individual rights and liberties, and genuine equality, access to justice acs has worked to draw attention to the judicial crisis. cement -- the senate only confirm 62 of barack obama's to additional nominees in the past two years, compared to 104 george bush, and 128 for bill clinton during the first two years of their presidency. we have 875 federal judgeships, and we now have 101 vacancies. that is an extraordinarily high number. 49 of those vacancies are described as judicial emergencies. most recently, the tragic death of judge john roll brought attention to this crisis. he was at the safeway in tucson to talk with gabby giffords about this very issue. about judicial vacancies in arizona. and his death has resulted in arizona n

. >> at this event today, white house counsel, robert bauer called the number of current judicial vacancies and emergency situation. he took part in this discussion of the judicial appointment process hosted by the american constitution society good for the national press club in washington, this is an hour and a half. >> for those of you not familiar with acs, where a network of lawyers, judges, policymakers, law professors and law students that promotes vitality of our comp effusions and its fundamental values. individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, access to justice, democracy and the rule of law. acs has worked to draw attention to the federal judicial vacancy crisis. the senate confirmed only 62 of president barack obama's judicial nominees in the past two years compared to 100 for george w. bush and 128 for bill clinton during the first two years of their president these. we had 875 federal judgeships and we now have 101 vacancies. that's an extraordinarily high number. 49 of those vacancies are described as judicial emergencies. most recently, the tragic death of judge jo

among those speaking today was what house counsel robert bauer. the u.s. senate is meeting this afternoon to consider federal aviation programs, including air transportation fees. you can see live coverage of the debate on c-span 2 starting at 2:15 p.m. eastern. the house is not in session this week. they will return next week. >> there is no other way forward. in this crisis, we simply to learn together. as california's first, members of a political party second. >> today, step by step, we are putting ourselves on a better, more sustainable path and pushing ahead on the road to growth. >> find and watch this year's state of the state addresses, as well as inaugural from the country's governors. >> pictures of the smithsonian institution in the springtime as much of the midwest is facing a major snowstorm. two leading members of the smithsonian's board of regents said that the board gives wayne quaff his full support. some groups had called for his removal after he pulled a video from the smithsonian art exhibit. it was described as religious desecration.

that is why chief justice roberts, attorney general holder, white house counsel bob bauer and many others including the president of the united states have spoken out and urged the senate to act. now, nearly one out of every eight federal judgeships is vacant. one out of every eight. that puts at serious risk americans all over the country. -- the country to have the ability to have a fair hearing, and the real price that is being paid for these unnecessary delays is the judges that remain are overburdened, the american people that depend on them are being denied hearings, and being denied justice in a timely fashion, whether you're a plaintiff or the defendant, whether you're a prosecutor or a defendant. so we can consider and confirm this president's nominations to the federal bench in a timely manner, especially when president obama has worked with both democratic and republican home state senators to identify superbly qualified consensus nominations. none of the nominations on the executive calendar are controversial. they all have the support of their home state senators, republicans