Date: March 6, 2003

Subject: Estrada Nomination

Description: Throughout the 2003 session, Senate Democrats filibustered numerous presidential nominations to the U.S. Courts of Appeal, essentially establishing a requirement that any nominee be approved by a supermajority of 60 votes in the 100 vote Senate, rather than the simple majority required by the Constitution. This particular vote was on the nomination of Miguel Estrada, but similar votes were held on the nominations of Priscilla Owen, William Pryor, Charles Pickering and Janice Brown. The results were the same in every case: a majority voted to move the nominations to final passage, but the supermajority of 60 votes was not attained. ACU supported this nomination and believes that the filibuster of judicial nominations compromises the Senate's duty to "advise and consent."

Result: Cloture Motion Rejected, 55-44

Democrat: 4 Yeas, 43 Nays, 1 Not voting
Republican: 51 Yeas, 0 Nays, 0 Not voting
Independent: 0 Yeas, 1 Nays, 0 Not voting

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