Litigation

Senate Democrats to Push for Votes on Judges

By Peter Hardin

Judicial confirmation battles could dominate late-night Senate sessions soon if Senate Democrats execute a plan to press for votes on stalled nominees for 22 judgeships.

Democratic leaders announced they plan to launch the confirmation push before a possible battle looms this summer over a nominee to succeed Justice John Paul Stevens, according to a Bloomberg article.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, noted that Democrats had voted to confirm 43 judicial nominees picked by President George W. Bush at this point in his first term, compared to 18 nominees selected by President Obama that the Senate has confirmed so far, Politico reported.

To learn more about Obama’s pace for appointing nominees and success at winning their confirmation, see Gavel Grab.

Full post as published by The Gavel on April 14, 2010 (boomark / email).