An op-ed in today's Wall Street Journal discusses Senate inaction on President Bush's judicial nominees, some of whom have been languishing for years.

Democrats are already far behind the historical pace for judicial confirmations in the last two years of a President's term, even in years with an opposition Senate. A GOP Senate confirmed 15 appeals-court nominees in Bill Clinton's last Congress, and Democrats confirmed 17 in Ronald Reagan's last two years. The Harry Reid Democrats have confirmed only seven.

All of this deserves more political elevation this year, not least because it will affect the next President. John McCain is supporting Mr. Specter's plan, and urging the confirmation of Messrs. Keisler, Conrad and Matthews for the Memorial Day deal. Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama aren't. The two Democrats are only inviting trouble for themselves if they should make it to the White House. Republicans are sure to invoke the Harry Reid precedent to derail their nominees.

GOP Senators need to use their minority rights now to insist that Democrats honor their pledge by confirming three bona fide Bush nominees. Democrats are hoping to run out the clock on the Bush Presidency, and the GOP should use the leverage it has while Mr. Reid still wants to get things done. Republicans need to make judges an issue so voters understand that the stakes on the federal appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, couldn't be higher in 2008.

The constitutional role for the Senate is to advise and consent, not to bully and block.  The President has nominated well-qualified and respected jurists, but the Democratic leadership in the Senate won't allow them to receive an up-or-down vote because they don't pass muster with liberal special interest groups.  Senate leadership should follow their constitutional role and historical precedent, and allow these qualified nominees to be voted on by the full Senate.