This afternoon, Sen. Patrick Leahy attempted to secure a floor vote on the nomination of Jane Branstetter Stranch of Tennessee to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked the vote, claiming that the GOP needed more time to consider her nomination.

President Obama nominated Stranch on August 6, 2009, with the support of both her home state senators. The Judiciary Committee approved her nomination with bipartisan support in November. She has been waiting for a confirmation vote since.

Michael B. Keegan, President of People For the American Way, issued the following statement:

“Jane Stranch is a clearly qualified nominee, and has the support of both Republican senators from her home state of Tennessee and a bipartisan majority of the Judiciary Committee. She has now waited eight months for a simple up-and-down vote from the Senate. There is no good reason for this delay—it is instead the result of the Republican minority’s persistent, counter-productive obstructionism.

“I applaud Sen. Leahy for attempting to move this nomination so that Jane Stranch can start working for the people of Tennessee and the Senate can get back to work for the people of the United States. I urge the Republican leadership to find the time to do its job and let the Senate vote on this, and other needlessly stalled nominations.”

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