2 days Ago
Topline Democrats are making a last-minute push to confirm a slate of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees before Republicans take control of the upper chamber, as President-elect Donald Trump has outpaced Biden in the total number of judges confirmed during their terms—but Trump has urged Republicans to block the nominees. Key Facts Big Number 234. That’s the number of judicial appointments, including three Supreme Court justices, Trump made during his first term, the second-most of any president during a single term.
Contra Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., urged Republicans not to delay confirmation of the judges, noting Democrats helped approve 12 judicial confirmations at the end of Trump’s presidency, the Associated Press reported.
Key Background After confirming Kidd, Republicans dragged the Senate session past midnight Tuesday by forcing votes on each motion to move between executive session, in which they considered judicial nominations, and legislative session, held to consider bills, a procedure normally done by unanimous consent, Politico reported . Meanwhile, Republicans have been battling internally over absences—including that of Vice President-elect Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio—that some Republican senators believe could improve their chances of tanking the confirmations given several absences among Democrats.
Vance argued in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that his absence wouldn’t have mattered for the vote on Kidd, who would have been confirmed 49-46, rather than 49-45, if he’d been present Monday. Further Reading Trump’s victory, GOP Senate win have Democrats racing to confirm judges (Washington Post) Liberals pressure Senate Democrats to confirm more Biden judges while they can (Associated Press) In reversal, Thune seeks to slow down Biden's judicial nominees (ABC News).
