Hall said the agreement reached by a bipartisan group preserves the Senate's ability to block "extremist nominees" like Myers. Due to his record on sacred sites, sovereignty and the trust responsibility, tribes have lobbied to prevent Myers from taking a seat on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears a significant number of Indian law cases affect tribes in the West, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.
"Thanks to the efforts of tribes nationwide, Myers continues to be filibustered and the nuclear option has been avoided - our system of checks and balances is preserved," Hall said. The compromise will allow a vote on three other appeals court nominees, including one today for Texas Supreme Court Judge Priscilla R. Owen. She is nominated for a spot on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has ruled negatively against tribes in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. With the appeals court nominees out of the way, debate is turning towards a possible vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. The White House is said to be preparing for someone to step down as early as next month. Get the Story:Senate Set To Vote on Delayed Nominee (The Washington Post 5/25)
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Bush Expected to Push for a Conservative (The Washington Post 5/25)
Many Republicans Are Already Eager to Challenge Agreement on Filibusters (The New York Times 5/25)
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Justice Choice Could Rekindle Filibuster Fight in the Senate (The New York Times 5/25) Relevant Documents:
Inspector General Letter | NCAI Resolution | Environmental Group's Letter | Holland & Hart Biography Indianz.Com Profile:
Industry insider named to Interior (March 30, 2001) From the Indianz.Com Archive:
Myers reversing sacred site opinion (10/25)
Bush nominee has no 'agenda' on Clinton decisions (6/21) Relevant Links:
Judicial nominees, Department of Justice site - http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/judicialnominations.htm Related Stories:
Myers left out of Senate deal on Bush nominees (5/24)
Myers seen as expendable in judicial nominee fight (5/23)
Senate begins debate on Bush judicial nominees (5/19)
Senate showdown on Bush judicial nominees nears (5/17)
Democrats won't budge on Myers, other nominees (5/13)
Debate continues over blocked judicial nominees (05/10)
Democrats reject GOP offer on Bush judicial nominees (04/29)
GOP refuses compromise on Bush judicial nominees (4/27)
Democrats may offer deal on some Bush nominees (4/26)
Frist to challenge Democrats on judicial nominees (4/15)
Senate panel votes to advance Myers nomination (03/18)
Quechan Nation blasts Myers for Senate testimony (3/17)
Editorial: Reject Myers for appeals court on merits (3/17)
Democrats vow to shut down Senate on judicial picks (3/16)
Editorial: Myers still 'unworthy' choice for appeals court (03/11)
Salazar urges Bush to withdraw Myers nomination (03/02)
Myers before Senate Judiciary Committee again (3/1)
NCAI renews objection to Bill Myers nomination (2/25)
Probe of Myers role in ranching dispute released (2/23)
Investigation faults role of Bush nominee at Interior (02/16)
Republicans to push Myers for appeals court again (2/15)
Democrats block court nominee on Senate floor (7/21)
Vote set on controversial Bush court nominee (7/20)
Democrats continue to object to Myers nomination (05/19)
Bush nominee opposed by Indian Country advances (04/02)
Tribes blast Bush choice for federal appeals court (03/26)
Tribal leaders to discuss court nominee, budget (03/24)
Tex Hall: Former DOI lawyer bad choice for court (3/8)
Myers advocated giving $1M federal land for free (03/08)
Bush judicial nominee blasted by Democrats (02/06)
Senate committee to take up Bill Myers judgeship (2/3)
Probes clear ex-DOI lawyer seeking judgeship (01/12)
Appeals court nominee favored industry over tribes (12/18)
Interior's top lawyer stepping down next month (10/02)
DOI's top lawyer under ethics investigation (08/15)
Interior has few answers at Senate hearing (7/18)
Tribes push action on sacred sites (3/21)
Interior Solicitor on trust fund crash course (10/17)
Memo: Solicitor's order was 'intimidating' (10/10)
Myers reversing sacred site opinion (10/25)
Bush nominee has no 'agenda' on Clinton decisions (6/21)
Norton confirmed by 'landslide' (1/31)
Babbitt denies Calif. gold mine (1/19)
BLM recommends mine rejection (11/10)