Washington — Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist is pressing senators to speed up judicial confirmations with a new urgency because of terrorism.
Rehnquist has complained before about slow confirmations, but he directed new, harsh criticism Tuesday at Democrats who have controlled the Senate since June and now decide whether and when to vote on President Bush's nominees.
"During times such as these, the role of the courts becomes even more important in order to enforce the rule of law," Rehnquist, a Republican, said in his annual report on the courts. "To continue functioning effectively and efficiently, however, the courts must be appropriately staffed."
There are 94 vacancies in the federal judiciary about 11 percent of the 853 district, trade and appeals court judgeships, court records show. That's the most openings at the start of a year since January 1994, when there were 118.
Rehnquist said senators "ought to act with reasonable promptness and to vote each nominee up or down." He also said the president should choose judges quickly and try to recruit private attorneys for judgeships.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., defended the confirmation pace during what he called a "tumultuous year for the nation and also for the Senate."
Bush had more choices approved in 2001 than the past two presidents Democratic President Clinton and Bush's father before him each had in their first year in office, Leahy said.
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