The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 2 of 2)

Charles Pickering . This time, it's a less public display of senatorial hubris. /p>

The White House nominated Raleigh, North Carolina lawyer James Dever to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, but Edwards apparently feels miffed that he wasn't consulted on the nomination.

As a result, the junior senator and presidential wannabe has declined to sign and turn in to the Judiciary Committee a nomination form senators from a nominee's home state are required to file before the nominee can be scheduled for a confirmation hearing. The office of Jesse Helms filed its form promptly.

Edwards has told the White House and the Judiciary Committee staff that he's still examining Dever's record, and probably won't get around to filing the form, if ever, until after the election recess. Dever, though, wasn't viewed by anyone -- White House, Judiciary Committee, Justice Department -- as a controversial pick.

"Not even close," says a Justice Department staffer. "This is just the kind of thing Republicans up on the hill should be screaming about. One lousy form, one senator bottles up the whole process."

Edwards apparently is miffed that none of the names he has put forward for the federal bench has been considered by the White House or Justice Department.

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