Editorial: GOP leadership playing politics

Tuesday, June 16, 1998 | 9:03 a.m.

After receiving a bevy of criticism, including from Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, the Senate finally started to move and approve some of President Clinton's judicial nominees who had been blocked by the Senate. But, in hindsight, hopes of an end to partisanship seemed premature.

It was revealed last week that Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., has stalled the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to an appeals court post, even though her nomination was approved overwhelmingly in March by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The New York Times reported that Lott is worried that if she is confirmed as a federal appeals court judge, she would later be picked by Clinton for the Supreme Court.

It's clear that Sotomayor, who was appointed by President Bush in 1992 as a federal district court judge, would not be an easy target for ultra-conservatives to vilify. But it's partisan politics at its worst to prevent the elevation of a highly respected jurist because of a fear that the individual may be qualified enough for the Supreme Court. Under Lott's logic, the best and brightest need not apply.

Although it's an election year and some political gamesmanship is to be expected by both parties in Washington, injecting partisanship into judicial appointments is wrong. It's time for Lott to stop playing politics and let Sotomayor get the vote in the Senate she deserves.