Back in May of this year, the Senate under Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) topped 100 Trump judicial nominees confirmed. Next week, that number is expected to go up by 19 more, according to a report in Politico: “Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday set up votes on lifetime appointments for 19 judicial nominees next week, setting up a busy pre-recess work session on a top GOP priority.”
“Senate Democrats are fighting the confirmations, requiring McConnell to force procedural votes on each nominee. But under a GOP rules change earlier this year triggered by the ‘nuclear option,’ Democrats can only delay each of those nominees by two hours a piece next week rather than 30 hours, the previous limit. A handful of those judges will likely receive significant bipartisan support.”
The success of the Republican conference in confirming so many judges has angered some Democrats, demonstrating their need to win a Senate majority in 2020 to stop a wave of yet more Trump judicial nominees (should Trump be reelected himself) being confirmed, to lasting effect.
“Not bad for a week’s work and that’s what the Senate will accomplish before we adjourn for August,” said McConnell on the Senate floor on Thursday.
