Senate Confirms 60 Judges, 19 Get No Action

[cal04]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/12/23/us/politics/AP-Senate-Judges.html?hp

After two years of political disagreements over judicial nominations, here's the final score for the 111th Congress: 60 nominees confirmed by the Senate for U.S. appellate and district courts and 19 receiving no up-or-down vote.

Thirteen of the unconfirmed nominees received unanimous support from the Judiciary Committee.

Some were opposed by Republicans who believe the nominees are liberal activists who would allow their views to influence rulings.

There are more than 90 judicial vacancies in U.S. district and appellate courts.

[gratuitous]

1. I like that

Unnamed Republicans "believe" the nominees to be liberal activists. Every last one of these nominees has gone through a hearing with the Judiciary Committee, where any Senator can sit in or feed questions to committee members to discern a nominee's credentials and philosophy. No need for "belief" when there's plenty of evidence or opportunity to gather evidence. But now it's sufficient for any Republican anywhere to "believe" that a nominee will be a liberal activist, so that puts paid to their chance of a judgeship.

Does it work the other way? Curiously, AP and the Times are silent on that point.

[bluedeminredstate]

2. Activist judges?

Look no further than the Roberts Supreme Court. I don't recall the Dems ever talking about conservative activist judges during the Chimp years.

[Tx4obama]

3. The numbers in the article are WAY OFF

Obama has gotten 60 federal judges confirmed (plus two on the SCOTUS)

BUT there are 43 nominees (not 19) sitting in limbo without confirmation yet.

The Appeals Court and District Court lists here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federal_judges_appointed_by_Barack_Obama

[BzaDem]

5. I think the 19 refers to judges reported by the judiciary committee but did not get a floor vote yet

There were others appointed relatively recently that did not yet get a hearing.

[jberryhill]

4. I don't think it's good to have 19 frustrated judges

They should take a trip to Vegas or New Orleans and loosen up a little.