GOP Control Of Federal Trial Courts Has Increased Since Obama Took Office

[Joanne98]

The AP’s Mark Sherman reports that GOP obstruction in the Senate has allowed Republicans to further entrench their control over the federal bench, even though a Democratic president is now naming judges:

A determined Republican stall campaign in the Senate has sidetracked so many of the men and women nominated by President Barack Obama for judgeships that he has put fewer people on the bench than any president since Richard Nixon at a similar point in his first term 40 years ago.

The delaying tactics have proved so successful, despite the Democrats’ substantial Senate majority, that fewer than half of Obama’s nominees have been confirmed and 102 out of 854 judgeships are vacant. <...>

When Bush left office, Republicans had appointed just under 60 percent of all federal judges. Twenty months later, the number has dipped only slightly to a shade under 59 percent, according to statistics compiled by the liberal Alliance for Justice. Because of retirements, the percentage of Republican-nominated district judges actually has gone up.

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/09/06/gop-district-courts/

[xchrom]

1. If one is going to Govern one has to be stubborn and

Ruthless about it.

[suzie]

2. So, what would your suggestion be on how to get more judges past the

Republicans?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Doctor_J]

3. HUNDREDS of recess appointments

One for every last fucking empty spot. Real liberals too

[suzie]

4. Okay, so we got the silly reply out of the way.

Do you have a real suggestion?

[Doctor_J]

8. Yup. Now compare it to all the other replies you got

[Hawkowl]

10. There is nothing silly about that

The people need judges, and if the rethuglicans are going for mindless obstructionism, then fuck'em. It would put Obama on offense for once. Once he's made the recess appointments, simply submit their names again for full confirmation.

[suzie]

11. As I replied below, getting lawyers, professors, judges to give up their jobs

for a limited period federal judgeship might be a problem. But if it gives you the opportunity to make a negative statement about Obama, I guess the silliness serves its purpose.

[Demeter]

5. I concur

If you can't be deft and smart, at least be ruthless.

[depakid]

6. LOL- but that wouldn't be "bipartisan"

[suzie]

7. Well, it's not a very realistic idea, given that it might be difficult to find a

group of lawyers, state court judges, law professors willing to give up their current positions/practices to take a job that may last only a few months.

But what does reality matter if the only reason for your post is to get in a dig at Obama?

[Hawkowl]

9. Harry Reid needs to go

He is incompetent. I don't care if he is unelected or retains his seat as long as his incomparably incompetent ass isn't majority leader.