Letter: Enact term limits by retiring Grassley

The standard workweek is 260 annual days. The Senate and Sen. Chuck Grassley are in session for approximately 125 days a year. Of course, Sen. Grassley had time to mow his lawn and visit all of the DQ's since he enjoyed seven weeks of summer vacation, including having off the entire month of August. But the most important work of the Senate Judiciary Committee is seeing to it that the federal judiciary is fully staffed with competent judges. Currently, there are 102 judicial vacancies with '59 nominees pending. ”According to the Federal Bar Association, the 'increasing number of federal judicial vacancies throughout the federal court system is straining the capacity of the federal courts to administer justice in an adequate and timely manner.”

In other words, Grassley's inaction is undermining the Sixth Amendment's guarantee to 'a speedy trial” and creating a potential crisis in the field of federal civil litigation. The excuse for this backlog now is Grassley's belief that the Senate should not take action on judges nominated by a lame duck president in an election year which sets him at odds with George Washington who as a lame duck president in an election nominated two Supreme Court Justices, both of whom were approved by the Senate. In the 21st Century, 'work” is defined by accomplishment. If you don't get the big stuff done, then it is time to follow Rod Blum's advice - enact term limits by retiring Sen. Grassley.

Mitchell A. Levin

Cedar Rapids