CFFJ CALLS ON SENATE TO CONFIRM LEON HOLMES

July 06, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Audrey Mullen
(202) 861-5677

Anti-Believer Litmus Test Must Be Stopped

(Washington, DC) The Coalition for a Fair Judiciary today called on the United States Senate to confirm federal judicial nominee Leon Holmes to the Eastern District of Arkansas. A vote on the Holmes nomination will follow a lengthy scheduled debate today.

"The main complaint of the extreme Left against Mr. Holmes nomination seems to be centered upon his embrace of biblical tenets of traditional marriage," said Kay Daly, president of the Coalition for a Fair Judiciary. "The history of judicial nominations shows us that Presidents have nominated men of faith because it was a clear indicator of character and integrity. Today, however, any expression of religious belief is a one-way ticket to a filibuster."

Leon Holmes wrote an article with his wife, Susan, for a Catholic publication some years ago discussing St. Paul s views on traditional marriage as outlined in the New Testament book of Ephesians.

"Inside the beltway, the Left seems to be overlooking Mr. Holmes remarkable resume, character and career not to mention the flood of letters, phone calls and emails from colleagues outside the beltway who know him best," said Daly. "Democrats, Republicans, women, men, people of diverse backgrounds, faith, gender and race have testified to his qualifications, character and integrity. But it seems to have run into a brick wall of those determined to apply a religious litmus test to the President s judicial nominees."

Holmes was nominated in January, 2003 and appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 27, 2003.

"Democrats have largely focused their vitriol upon circuit court of appeals nominees, but Mr. Holmes appears to be an exception as a district court nominee. The one thing these opposed nominees seem to have in common is their faith," said Daly. "One would think that Senators Leahy, Kennedy and Durbin, as Catholics, would understand that Mr. Holmes was merely adhering to the tenets of their Catholic faith. It would be the height of irony if the Catholics Need Not Apply sign was nailed into place by fellow Catholics."