Tyranny of the minority

Judicial crisis: More than two years into the Bush presidency, filibustering Democrats are engaged in an unprecedented effort to keep the full Senate from giving its advice and consent on judicial nominations. The result: Depleted federal appeals courts offer only piecemeal justice | Lynn Vincent

AFTER SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-Texas) moved to Washington last December and unpacked his suitcases, he learned freshman lawmakers aren't the only ones carrying baggage. The Senate was changing hands, from Democratic to Republican control. And though Mr. Cornyn, a former Texas attorney general and Supreme Court justice, was no stranger to conflict, the entrenched bitterness that marked 18 months of Senate gridlock over President Bush's judicial nominations surprised even him.

"I had no illusions that the Senate was a bipartisan wonderland," Sen. Cornyn told WORLD, "but I was truly amazed at just how fractured the judicial confirmation process was."

That may be because this confirmation breakdown has disintegrated well beyond standard partisan payback. Yes, Democrats' consent to 124 of Mr. Bush's nominees has been excruciatingly slow; and yes, that may be retaliatory torpor for GOP foot-dragging on Clinton nominees.