Senate Republicans, Democrats Reach Deal On Obama's Judicial Nominees
Senate Republicans have reportedly agreed to let at least 19 of President Obama's non-controversial judicial nominees win confirmation, effectively ending a monthslong blockade. In exchange, Democrats have agreed to not put four controversial judicial nominees up for a vote.
Among the four is Goodwin Liu, an associate dean at UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall law school who was nominated by Obama to serve on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Republicans have flagged Liu for being too liberal and inexperienced.
Ten of Obama's judicial picks were approved by the Senate over the past few days as part of the agreement, Among the 10 was Albert Diaz, who had been awaiting confirmation to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals since January.
Officials said the agreement was reached this weekend between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky).
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, had said prior to the agreement that roughly 30 Obama nominees were awaiting confirmation in the Senate.
Said Leahy: "A majority of the nominations pending on the Senate's calendar received unanimous support from the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 17 of the nominations are to fill seats designated as judicial emergencies by the nonpartisan Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts."