Bybee vote delayed

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003 | 11:21 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The Senate Judiciary Committee today delayed a scheduled vote on Nevada law professor Jay Bybee in his nomination to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Several Democratic senators on the panel submitted written questions to Bybee after his nomination hearing last week. Bybee has not had time to respond, so a committee vote on his nomination is not likely until the week of March 3 or later. Congress is in recess next week.

Several Democrats on the panel, among them Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., want to know more about the stances Bybee has taken in his current job as an adviser to Attorney General John Ashcroft. Leahy has said he was concerned about Bybee's role in "perpetuating the culture of secrecy that has enveloped the Justice Department over the last two years." They also want more clarification on Bybee's positions on civil rights as well as his advocacy of states' rights vs. the rights of Congress.

Bybee's final hurdle is a full Senate vote. Bybee has the support of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., as well as Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.

Bybee is on leave from his job as a law professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to work at the Justice Department.