CONFIRMING BIDEN’s JUDGES

While Trump is fuming and demanding Republicans block the Senate from confirming any more of President Biden’s judicial nominees, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has finally picked up the pace. In just three days so far this week, the Senate has confirmed five judges, one of them for the 11th Circuit Court. A sixth judge (Shared Desai) is expected to be confirmed today.

But that’s not the most impressive. The Majority Leader finally did what he could and should have done far earlier: He filed cloture motions on a long list of judges – not just two or three at a time. And yesterday, working till well past midnight, the Senate majority passed cloture motions on six district judge nominees. That may well be something of a record, at least for Schumer. Today there will be two more cloture votes.

As of dawn today, eight judges are awaiting final floor votes. Except for Desai, confirmation votes for these judges won’t happen until 2 December or later. Four circuit court nominees are also awaiting cloture and confirmation votes.

Meanwhile, today the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to have an executive meeting that may well approve another five district judges for debate and votes on the Senate Floor. EDIT: This morning, the committee approved all five by party-line votes.

For the Senate, it’s going to be a busy December, and who knows what will happen to Trump’s blood pressure or the blister on his Tweeting thumb!