Democrats foil appointments to judicial posts

To the editor:

President Bush nominated Miguel Estrada in May 2001 along with another 11 qualified candidates. The president has moved quickly to nominate well-qualified judges in an effort to address the current crisis at the circuit court level. Recently, Senate Democrats dismissed a nominee in committee who was well-qualified, according to the American Bar Association, and had the support of a majority of Senators. Estrada may be next.

His confirmation is stalled in the U.S. Senate because Democrats are putting partisan politics before the stability of our court system.

Miguel Estrada personifies the American Dream. At the age of 17, Estrada emigrated to the United States, taught himself English , graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia University and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School.

If confirmed, Estrada would be the first Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Washington, D.C., circuit. That would leave him well-positioned to become the first Hispanic appointed to the Supreme Court.

As Dallas Morning News columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. wrote, "For those loyal Hispanic Democrats out there, this is your cue to ask why former President Clinton -- in eight years -- didn't make it a priority to break either barrier."

I am sick and tired of the Democrats playing partisan politics with the judicial branch of our government. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

ANGELA ZIMMER

Cape Girardeau