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DENVER (AP) -- Colorado Democratic Senator Ken Salazar claims the White House has NOT consulted with him on several appointments to the federal district court in Denver -- saying it's a requirement of the Constitution.
Salazar was one of 14 senators who broke a logjam of judicial appointments in a 2005 compromise known as the "Gang of 14." The lawmakers reached a deal to prevent a Democratic attempt to filibuster the confirmation of conservative appellate court candidates nominated by President Bush.
Salazar says the group agreed that the Constitution requires consultation with both senators from a state.
The comments came as Salazar and Republican Senator Wayne Allard squared off over judicial nominees for posts in Denver.
Congress recently added two federal judgeships in Denver to keep up with a backlog of cases.
A third vacancy arose this month with the death of U.S. District Judge Phillip S.-Figa.
Allard said he was not consulted on a letter Salazar wrote to President Bush about the matter, and felt "a little blind-sided" by Salazar's announcement.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
