Democrats Prepare for Estrada Filibuster
AP story by Jesse J. Holland.

The White House on Wednesday refused to release internal Justice Department (news – web sites) memos written by one of President Bush (news – web sites)’s nominees to an important appeals court, setting up a partisan showdown over Miguel Estrada.
Democrats say they will use a filibuster to keep Estrada from being confirmed for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit until the Washington lawyer answers more of their questions. They also want internal Justice memos Estrada wrote while working for the solicitor general’s office. Democrats say those writings would reveal how Estrada would think as a judge…
Democrats said the refusal means the Estrada debate will drag on. “I regret that the White House remains recalcitrant and continues to stand in the way of a solution to this impasse,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy (news, bio, voting record) of Vermont, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee (news – web sites).
Bush said the Democratic plan to block his nominee, who would be the first Hispanic judge on the appeals courts, was “shameful politics.” Senate GOP leader Bill Frist warned Democrats that he might force them to stay in the Senate chamber at night and on weekends until he gets a final vote on Estrada.
“I think it is important for America to understand that your side of the aisle is