New Flap Over Judicial Nominees

“When Democrats changed Senate rules last year to limit the filibuster against White House nominees, it raised hopes among some liberals that President Obama would use his new power to reshape the federal judiciary. Now, just over three months later, some Democrats and progressive groups are instead trying to stop two of the president’s latest nominees to the federal bench on the grounds that they are too conservative,” the New York Times reports.

“The conflict is the latest twist in a struggle over confirmations. The filibuster change, while heralded, had only a limited impact on the ability of Democrats to push through federal judges to lifetime appointments.”

“Senators still hold virtual veto power over judicial nominations associated with their states under a custom of the Senate Judiciary Committee that requires senators to return a ‘blue slip‘ acquiescing in a nomination before it can move forward.”