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MARCH 20, 2001

President George W. Bush and his top advisers on Monday met with the American Bar Association to discuss the organization's role in the judicial nomination process.

The ABA sends its own secret, private rankings to the Senate when federal judges are nominated by a President. Bush is questioning this role and the administration says that no one "special interest" group should have any particular sway on the process.

Bush had not yet decided if he will end the ABA oversignt but as political pressure mounts to make the federal judiciary more conservative, he may do just that. One conservative nominee Bush is being pushed to consider is former Senator Slade Gorton (R-Wash.), whom many consider a foe to tribal sovereignty.

In a related move, Bush yesterday rescinded 62 judicial nomination made by President Clinton.

Statement by ABA:
President Martha Barnett (ABA 3/19)

Get the Story:
ABA's Role In Vetting U.S. Judges Is Reviewed (The Washington Post 3/20)
Bush pulls Clinton's final nominees, including black appeals judge (AP 3/20)

Relevant Links:
The American Bar Association - www.abanet.org

Related Stories:
Campbell's support of Gorton raises questions (2/16)
McCain opposes Gorton judgeship (2/15)