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WASHINGTON - October 18 - There are indications
that the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to consider this
afternoon several judicial nominees, including a controversial
nominee to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Charles Pickering, at
a hearing that could be in effect closed to the public due to
security measures on Capitol Hill. People For the American Way
President Ralph G. Neas today urged Judiciary Committee Chairman
Patrick Leahy not to hold closed-door hearings on any judicial
nominees.
"De facto closed-door hearings on federal judicial nominees are
undemocratic and unacceptable," said Neas. "People For the
American Way urges Senator Leahy not to establish a precedent that
undermines the principles of open and accountable government and
shuts the public out of this critically important process."
Reportedly the hearing might be inaccessible to the public due
to security precautions that have shut Senate office buildings
temporarily and put restrictions on public access to the Capitol.
Neas said the hearing on nominations to lifetime positions on the
federal bench should be postponed if the public cannot be
guaranteed access to the hearing.
"Considering these judicial nominees is not a matter of national
security, or of such great urgency that we must violate fundamental
principles of democratic government," said Neas. "In particular,
there are many reasons to postpone the hastily scheduled hearing on
Judge Pickering so that the public can make sure that senators have
time to thoroughly consider the nominee's record." Neas said that
if the hearing goes forward, the Judiciary Committee must hold a
second hearing, accessible to the public, after the transcript of
the first hearing is made available.
"It is particularly important in this time of crisis that we
affirm, rather than abandon, the principles of democratic
self-governance," said Neas.
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