Senate Back From Brink ; Pact Allows Votes On 3 Judicial Picks, Preserves Filibuster

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WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of 14 senators Monday averted a historic and potentially debilitating Senate showdown over judicial nominations by agreeing to retain Senate rules that give extra power to political minorities.

The deal, struck in the offices of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., permits votes on three of five of President Bush's nominees to federal circuit courts of appeal that Democrats have blocked, including Priscilla Owen of Texas. Democrats had already agreed to grant votes on two other blocked judges. The deal also would retain the use of extended debate against judicial nominees - a tactic that requires 60 out of 100 votes in the Senate to overcome and which Democrats have used to prevent votes on 10 of Bush's nominees for appellate courts.

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Senate Back From Brink ; Pact Allows Votes On 3 Judicial Picks, Preserves Filibuster

The seven Democratic negotiators agreed that they would use the maneuver, called a filibuster, only in "extraordinary circumstances." In exchange, the seven Republicans said they would vote against efforts this year or next to do away with the filibuster, the so-called "nuclear option" on jud...

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