Senate Democrats tried last week to break a deadlock on judicial nominees. They didn’t do too well, despite tying up the chamber for days. Four nominees won confirmation: Denny Chin for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2d Circuit, Thomas Vanaskie for the 3d Circuit, and Marisa Demeo and Stuart Nash for the District of Columbia Superior Court. That leaves 23 other judicial nominees still waiting for votes.
According to Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democrats are reaping what they have sown. “Four of President Bush’s nominees to the 4th Circuit never received any hearing,” Sessions said April 21 on the Senate floor. In a statement the next day, committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said he’s ready to end ” ‘tit for tat’ excuses.” But Democrats have only a 59-member majority, and so far Republicans show no sign of allowing additional votes to be scheduled. — David Ingram
