Federal Judiciary

Filibusters

By Curt Levey

Gary Marx of the Judicial Confirmation Network notes in yesterday?s Washington Times that Lanny Davis' call for Barack Obama's judicial nominees to get up-or-down votes on the Senate floor seems ?strangely at odds? with his failure to speak out against Democrats? filibusters of Bush nominees and in support of Republicans? attempt to prevent filibusters via the nuclear option.

Marx goes on to say that JCN plans to ?stick to its principles and urge up-or-down votes? on all nominees, as long as ?the Senate abides by the historical procedural rules governing the confirmation process.? I?m guessing those rules include respect for blue slip privileges (remember, there?s at least one GOP senator in a majority of states). But Marx warns that

It would be quite understandable if Republican senators felt otherwise [about supporting up-or-down votes] ? most have had extensive experience with Democratic promises of reciprocity.

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Full post as published by ConfirmThem on January 20, 2009 (boomark / email).