The Senate’s historic vote last week to end minority party filibusters of most judicial nominees means three nominees to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will likely win approval. Their appointments could reshape the dynamic of a key appellate bench as major federal regulatory issues unfold.
In the weeks leading to the Nov. 21 decision, Republicans thwarted President Barack Obama’s picks for the court, compelling Democrats to turn to the so-called “nuclear option” to strip the minority’s ability to impede up-or-down votes on nominations.
