watford." so that's a good thing. daniel collins, who clerked for justice scalia and serves as an associate deputy attorney general in the bush justice department, says that watford -- quote -- "embodies the definition of judicial temperament -- very level headed and even keeled." 32 supreme court clerks from the term when watford clerked for justice ginsburg have written in support of the nomination. these include clerks from every justice on the court at that time, including all of justice scalia's clerks from that year, as well as several from justices rehnquist, thomas and kennedy. i find that quite amazing. a group of over 40 former clerks for judge kozinsky have also written in support of watford's nomination. this group includes numerous individuals with unquestionable conservative credentials. many clerked for justices rehnquist, scalia, alito and kennedy. several, such as steve angle, charles duggan, and ted uliotte, also served in the bush administration, including in the white house

president, paul watford.he is a highly qualified -- in fact, he has the highest qualifications for the ninth circuit. he shouldn't be filibustered. he shouldn't require cloture. he is a nominee with impeccable legal credentials and qualifications. he served as a federal prosecutor. he is now a highly regarded appellate litigator in private practice. the a.b.a. standing committee on the federal judiciary gave paul watford their highest rating, the highest possible rating they could give, and they gave it to him unanimously. he also has the strong support of his home state senators, senator feinstein and senator boxer. he has widespread support across the spectrum. i think of a couple noted conservatives, including two former presidents of the los angeles chapter of the federalist society, and also judge alex cozinski, a conservative reagan appointee who is now chief judge of the ninth circuit. so by any traditional measure, paul watford is the kind of judicial nominee who should be confirmed easily by an overw

watford's nomination very soon. it is a judicial emergency. so once again i thank the leaders on both sides for agreeing to bring judge nguyen's nomination to the floor and i urge my colleagues to support this nomination. and i hope we will continue to confirm highly qualified nominees for our federal courts, which is especially important to the ninth circuit. i thank the chair and i yield the floor. mr. president, i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: mr. conrad: i ask unanimous consent to terminate the quorum call. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. conrad: and i'd ask for the yeas and nays on the nomination nominations -- just on the first one, the yeas and nays on the first nomination. the presiding officer: is there a sufficient second? there appears to be. the question is on the nomination of -- on the nguyen nomination. the clerk will call the roll. vote: votevote: vote vote: vote: vote: the presiding officer: are there any senators wishing to vote or to change their

areas designated as judicial emergencies, including two nominees for seats in the ninth circuit, pal watford and andrew hurwitz, who are extraordinarily well-qualified. i hope my republican colleagues will give us a break here. these people deserve to get their moment here on the senate floor, deserve a vote. and the areas that they're going to serve deserve a full complement of competent jurists. it's time to restore sanity, comity and good faith to the way we treat judicial nominations on the senate floor, and it should start today. let me discuss j. tharp's background for the record. nominated when the judgeship opened up after judge blanche manning took senior status. a partner in the office of mayor brown where he is coleader of enforcement practice. he was born into a military family, very proud of it. son of a lieutenant colonel in the marine corps. j. tharp attended duke university on an rotc scholarship received an undergraduate degree summa cum laude. started, served on active duty with the marines for six years achieving the rank of captain and earning the navy achievement medal.

5:30 on monday, there will be at least one roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the watford nomination. mr. president, if ness no further business to come before the senate, i ask that we adjourn under the previous order. the presiding officer: the senate stands adjourned until 2:00 p.m. monday, may 21. sir >> that and dishes of work today in the senate lawmakers began debating reauthorize in the food and an integration user fees and confirm a pair of nominees to the federal reserve. later in the day senate majority leader harry reid came to the floor. -- supreme court justices and the nation's governors. you can get one for $12.95 at c-span.org/shop. >> even though job opportunities are scarce in this economy is not for nothing that you spend this time preparing. jerry falwell observed you don't determine a man's greatness by his talent or wealth as the world does but rather what it takes to discourage him. america needs your talent and skill. >> the index of someone else's construction of the way things ought to be. it is of duke right wrongs. it is up to you to point out

paul wat watford was rated unanimously well-qualified. that's the highest rating possible.he clarkedty united states supreme court for ruth ginsburg. he was a federal prosecutor in los angeles. i do have a special place in my heart for prosecutors. he has the support of his home state senators, bipartisan support from noted conservativ conservatives. justice hurwitz is a respected jurist on the arizona supreme court. he also had the highest rating possible and unanimously. i should also note, this is not a partisan thing. his nomination has the strong support of both republican home state senators, senator john mccain and senator jon kyl. now, when the republican leader came to thand the majority leado an understanding of 14 judicial nominations awaiting consideration, the arrangement took months to implement. the senate could have done it in ourhours. the senate could have easily done it on a friday afternoon. because it has taken so longer the backlog of judicial vacancies and judicial nominees continue. so we're right back where we started. we have 22 judicial nominees a