Dear Senator Edwards:

I urge you to vote to end debate on the judicial nominations before the Senate and to allow the Senate to proceed to a vote. I am not asking you to vote in favor of the nominations, but to vote your conscience. The mantra from 2000 that every vote should count goes equally for the Senate of the United States, and a vote should be taken and counted.

I understand that argument that 63 of President Clinton's nominees were "blocked", although I don't believe any of these would have been confirmed if a vote were taken. But I will urge my Republican friends in the future, when a Democrat is nominating judges, to bring all nominations to the floor for vote.

I hope you will set the example from which you might benefit in 2005.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.