Friday, March 1, 2002

Washington D.C.–United States Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA), Chairman of the Republican Conference, and Arlen Specter (R-PA), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today lauded the President on his nominations of John Jones and Christopher “Kit” Conner to the Federal Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Both Senators said they support the President’s recent nominations and pledged to continue to urge Senate action on the current vacancies, a process which has been stalled by Senator Daschle and his colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Attorneys Jones and Conner are highly qualified to assume the important role of Judge and the duty of protecting the Constitution and ensuring the effective operation of our judicial system,” Santorum said. “Since the onset of the war against terrorism, our federal judiciary has taken on an even higher level of importance, and it is imperative that we provide our courts with the resources necessary to enforce the rule of law. These judgeships are vital to our national security goals, and I urge my colleagues to work with the President to fill these vacancies in a timely manner.”

“I am very pleased with President Bush’s nomination of John Jones and Christopher Conner. I believe the professional expertise and caliber of these distinguished attorneys will be a true asset to the bench as they continue to serve the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I can think of no other individuals better suited to uphold the integrity of our courts and fill these positions left vacant so long,” said Specter.

The United States district courts are the trial courts of the federal court system. Within limits set by Congress and the Constitution, the district courts have jurisdiction to hear nearly all categories of federal cases, including both civil and criminal matters. There are 94 federal judicial districts in the United States, including three in Pennsylvania. The President has nominated Jones and Conner to the Middle District vacancies that have existed since April of 2001 when Judges James McClure and Sylvia Rambo assumed senior status.

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