Benched by the Senate: Who Made It Through in Last-Minute Confirmations

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P J Media: Benched by the Senate: Who Made It Through in Last-Minute Confirmations

Obama has surpassed his predecessors with 305 of his district and circuit court nominees confirmed in six years.

 

by by BILL STRAUB December 23, 2014 - 11:00 pm

 

WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats and the Obama administration took full advantage of the extended legislative session on the $1.1 trillion spending plan that ended on Dec. 16, using the extra time to confirm a dozen nominees to federal judgeships that could result in a lasting imprint on the courts.

 

In all, the upper chamber confirmed 17 judges to various court levels in December, most by voice vote. The action leaves 42 vacancies in a federal judiciary that totals 874.

 

Since November 2013, when Democrats employed a parliamentary maneuver to change Senate rules prohibiting filibusters on any judicial nominees save for those nominated to the Supreme Court, the chamber has confirmed 132 judgeships. Prior to the rules change, virulently opposed by Republicans, Obama witnessed only 45 judicial confirmations in 2013 and 49 in 2012.