I wrote Lautenberg an email telling him that i was against any type of fillabuster blocking Miguel Estrada and William Pryor's nomination to the appellate court...here is his response:
Dear Mr. PeteyPete,
Thank you for contacting me for about the nomination of William Pryor to
the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. I appreciate hearing
from you on this issue.
My duty to advise and consent on judicial nominations is an integral part of a
Senator's job, and I take it very seriously. Thus far, President Bush has asked
for the Senate's consent, but not its advice. A judge must protect the rights
and liberties of individuals as established by our Constitution. The American
people deserve a federal judiciary that is independent, objective, and will
reflect their values. Extremist or activist judges undermine the right to
privacy, civil liberties, and environmental protections that we hold dear in
America.
Alabama Attorney General William Pryor is an ultra-conservative ideologue
who has demonstrated a commitment to rolling back the clock on federal
protections against discrimination based on race, gender, age, and disability.
His extremist rhetoric and relentless efforts to further his singular,
conservative agenda demonstrate that he does not possesses the judicial
temperament required of an appellate court judge to apply the law in an
even-handed, balanced manner. Because he has failed to convince me and my
colleagues that he will not allow his political ideology to dictate his
interpretation and application of the law, I have opposed his nomination.
Thanks again for contacting me.
Senator Frank Lautenberg