Vote on Judicial Nominees Delayed in Spat Over Torture Memos

The nominations of five judicial nominees were delayed yesterday in a dispute over Justice Department interrogation memos.

The Senate Judiciary Committee had been scheduled to give consensus approval to the district court nominees yesterday, but committee chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., put them on hold for a week, the National Law Journal (sub. req.) reports.

Leahy acted after he sought committee consent to subpoena the memos, and a Republican senator objected. Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona asked to hold the subpoena request for a week, one day before the Senate recess.

Leahy wants subpoenas for memos providing legal advice by the Office of Legal Counsel on Bush administration practices related to national security and terrorism.