"In light of the spirit and continuing commitments made in this agreement, we commit to oppose the rules changes in the 109th Congress, which we understand to be any amendment to or interpretation of the rules of the Senate that would force a vote on judicial nomination by means other than unanimous consent or Rule XXII."

Sen. Ted Kennedy immediately seized on the provision, hailing it as a victory Tuesday morning for Democrats.

"The idea of the majority leader in the middle of the term to alter and change the rules of the United States Senate is effectively off the block now, for the remainder of this session," he told CNN.

With the provision in effect till January 2007 - when the next Congress is sworn in - President Bush's plans to appoint conservative justices could be in serious jeopardy.

With Bush in his second-to-last year in office and the 2008 presidential race under way, the administration isn't expected to have the clout to force through any controversial appointments.

The 18-month postponement also gives Democrats the chance to diminish the GOP's Senate majority in the 2006 election, a development that could further erode support for ending judicial filibusters.

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