Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Senate is poised this week to confirm six nominees for lifetime terms on the federal appeals courts. But the Senate majority has undermined decades of history and goodwill by moving forward on extremist judicial nominees who lack the support of their home-state senators. Michael Brennan will get a vote this week for a lifetime appointment to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals over the objection of Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). Ryan Bounds will get a hearing on his nomination to serve on the 9th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals despite the objection of both of Oregon’s senators and a paper trail of racist writings from his college newspaper that he originally failed to disclose.
In response, Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Senate Republicans have made a mockery of the judicial confirmation process as they rush to rubber stamp nominees that are less qualified and more extreme than ever. They are clearly in a race against time to pack the nation’s courts with as many far-right Trump nominees as possible. With few legislative accomplishments to speak of, majority leaders are instead working to rig the game by confirming narrow-minded, elitist judges who will rule for corporations and the wealthy from the bench. In the process, they have shown a stunning lack of respect for time-honored traditions that have led both parties to compromise.
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