Bush renominates Sandoval for bench

Wednesday, March 2, 2005 | 9:43 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

President Bush on Tuesday nominated Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval to serve as a U.S. district judge in Reno, amid a rancorous debate in the Senate over judicial nominees.

Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., recommended Sandoval, a Republican, to Bush last year.

As the senate minority leader, Reid is a key player in an ongoing battle with Republican leaders over judicial nominations. Republicans have blasted Reid for "obstructing" judicial nominees. They have threatened to seek a rule change, dubbed the "nuclear option," to prevent Democratic filibusters on the same nominees this year.

Reid has said GOP leaders should not complain because the Senate last year confirmed 204 nominees and blocked only 10. Reid on Tuesday told reporters that the nominees rejected last year would not fare better this year.

Despite the tension, Reid and Ensign called for a swift confirmation of Sandoval.

"I hope, for the good of the legal system in America, that Brian Sandoval is confirmed quickly," Ensign said.

"I would predict that Brian's nomination will move quickly through the Senate and will be an example of what Democrats and Republicans can achieve on judicial nominations when we work together to advance qualified consensus candidates," Reid said.