Outgoing Congress confirmed fewest judges since 1952, giving Trump a big opening
Outgoing Congress confirmed fewest judges since 1952, giving Trump a big opening
By David G. Savage Tribune Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump will take office with a chance to fill more than 100 seats on the federal courts because of an extraordinary two-year slowdown in judicial confirmations engineered by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Since Republicans took control of the Senate at the beginning of the 114th Congress in 2015, senators have voted to confirm only 22 of President Barack Obama's judicial nominees.
That's the lowest total since 1951-52, in the final years of Harry Truman's presidency.
When Democrats controlled the Senate in the last two years of George W. Bush's presidency, 68 of his judicial nominees were confirmed.
There are more than twice as many vacancies on federal benches as when Bush left office.
READ MORE: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/out...
By David G. Savage Tribune Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump will take office with a chance to fill more than 100 seats on the federal courts because of an extraordinary two-year slowdown in judicial confirmations engineered by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Since Republicans took control of the Senate at the beginning of the 114th Congress in 2015, senators have voted to confirm only 22 of President Barack Obama's judicial nominees.
That's the lowest total since 1951-52, in the final years of Harry Truman's presidency.
When Democrats controlled the Senate in the last two years of George W. Bush's presidency, 68 of his judicial nominees were confirmed.
There are more than twice as many vacancies on federal benches as when Bush left office.
READ MORE: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/out...
