Senate Republicans blocked on a procedural vote Monday night an appeals court nomination, Robert Bacharach for the Tenth Circuit. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he would be the last to come before the chamber — presumably until after Election Day, though possibly until next year. The vote was 56-34-3 with Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) voting “Present.” The Oklahoma Senators supported the judge but also support the implementation of the Leahy/Thurmond Rule (that no Circuit Court nominees be voted on after June in an Election Year). Senator Hatch supports the Rule but does not, on principle, filibuster judges.
The Senate this year has already confirmed five of President Obama’s circuit court nominees. Comparatively, the Senate confirmed the same number of President Bush’s circuit court nominees in 2004 and confirmed four circuit court nominees in 2008. Senate Democrats closed shop on President Bush’s circuit court nominees during the month of June in both 2004 and 2008. Taken as percentages, President Obama’s nominees also have had a significantly greater confirmation rate than Presidents Bush and Clinton. According to the Congressional Research Service, the percentage of circuit court nominees confirmed in presidential election years is the best it has been in 20 years.
What do you say to that nominee Bacharach?