A Dream
Long Deferred

Political snag keeps Judge Helene White's federal
court appointment on hold three years.

this does not -represent an agenda to
stall Clinton's nominees.
"Before this nomination came up,
elene White continues to
Senator Abraham was instrumental
wait for a Senate hearing
in pushing through four nomina-
on her nomination for a
tions in a bipartisan manner, both in
lifetime appointment to
the consultative and nomination
the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth
process, working with the [Clinton]
Circuit.
administration.
Caught in a rift between U.S.
"The White House put this nomi-
Sen. Spencer Abraham, a
nation up without consulting the sen-
Republican, and
ator or giving us any
President Clinton, the
cooperation with
Michigan Court of
respect to the con-
Appeals judge's nomina-
sultative and nomi-
tion has been in limbo
nation process,
for nearly three years.
which is generally
White's qualifications
the way that things
are not in question; the
go here.
hold-up stems from a
"We have indi-
procedural problem
cated there's some
between Abraham and
serious problems
the White House.
with the way the
For a nomination to
nomination — the
move to a hearing, sen-
process, that is —
ators from the nomi-
was brought up ...
nee's home state must
and the White
submit "blue slips" of
Judge Helene White
House acknowl-
approval. U.S. Sen. Carl
edged that they
Levin, a Democrat, returned his;
had, for lack of a better term, bun-
Abraham has not.
gled the process. "
A memorandum from Levin's
Davis would not comment on
office contends, "Of the now-pend-
the specific issues Abraham wished to
ing nominees, Helene White has
address with the president. A White
waited the longest without receiving
House spokesman did not respond to
a hearing for a seat on the U.S.
requests for comment.
Court of Appeals." In addition, the
However, Davis stressed that
memorandum says confirmations are
Abraham has nothing against White,
at their lowest level since before
and has told her this explicitly.
Jimmy Carter's presidency.
To Levin, the matter is simple:
White's predicament is part of a
"She's a highly experienced, well-quali-
curious wrinkle in federal politics in
fied nominee, and she's, I think, enti-
which only a small fraction of federal
tled to a hearing."
judicial nominations — 24 of 54 —
Levin also pointed toward a trend
have gone before the primarily
in nominations in the Senate. "It's a
Republican Senate Judiciary
disproportionate number of women
Committee. If the committee
and minorities that have been held
approves a nomination, it then goes to
up. I'm not saying that's intent, I'm
a confirmation vote on the Senate
just saying that is a fact."
floor.
A recently released study by
Joe Davis, a spokesman for
Citizens for Independent Courts, a
Abraham, affirmed the senator has
nonpartisan organization in
not allowed White's nomination to
Washington, supports Levin's con-
reach the committee. But, he said,
A DREAM on page 17

SAM ENGLAND
Staff Writer

Er

Marc Leathe
and Women's

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