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Jason Cornelius is reaching for the stars, literally, as a NASA intern

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Police: Wanted man found with brass knuckles in Wilkes-Barre

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey&#8217;s attempt at a defense of his record on judicial appointments (&#8220;<a href="https://www.timesleader.com/opinion/columns/500557/u-s-sen-pat-toomey-by-putting-aside-partisanship-in-pa-weve-succeeded-in-filling-federal-judicial-vacancies" target="_blank">By putting aside partisanship in Pa., we&#8217;ve succeeded in filling federal judicial vacancies</a>&#8221;) fails to tell the full story.Sen. Toomey makes the point that confirming judges &#8220;is a time-consuming process,&#8221; but doesn&#8217;t mention that nominees he supposedly supports have suffered needless delay due in large part to him and his colleagues. Take Third Circuit nominee Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo as an example; it is going to take Restrepo more than a year to be confirmed (a vote is scheduled for Jan. 11). As reported in numerous stories, it was Toomey who allowed Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley to delay Restrepo&#8217;s confirmation hearing for seven months, and it was Toomey who then allowed Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to delay Restrepo&#8217;s floor vote for another six months. Restrepo should have been confirmed months ago, and the only reason he wasn&#8217;t is the very political gamesmanship Toomey implies he avoids.Sen. Toomey&#8217;s work on confirming judges is not over. He makes no mention of the other Third Circuit vacancy, a seat formerly held by Judge Marjorie Rendell that has been vacant for months. With a year left in office, there is plenty of time for President Barack Obama to appoint Judge Rendell&#8217;s replacement.In 2008, President George W. Bush&#8217;s last year in office, Bush nominated a Fourth Circuit judge in March who was confirmed in May.Toomey should be working with U.S. Sen. Robert Casey and the White House to promptly name a nominee for this important vacancy and make sure they get through the nomination process in 2016.John NeurohrCo-chairman<a href="http://whycourtsmatter.org/state/pennsylvania/" target="_blank"> Why Courts Matter &#8211; PA Coalition</a>Valencia

Letter to the Editor: Sen. Pat Toomey shades truth on filling of federal judge vacancies