Statement from Judicial Crisis Network’s Chief Counsel and Policy Director Carrie Severino:
“Today’s vote is an important step toward ending the Democrats’ weaponization of Senate procedure. The cloture process, once a tool to enable orderly debate, is now being abused to create gridlock even over nominees with unanimous support. In 2013 a majority of both parties agreed to limit unnecessary post-cloture debate; it’s time for the same broad coalition to help get the Senate working again.”
Background –
By the numbers:
When President Trump entered office, there were 108 judicial vacancies. Today, there are 180 current and known future judicial vacancies.
- 27 for Courts of Appeals (12 pending nominees)
- 153 District/Specialty Courts (60 pending nominees)
Furthermore,
- 35 judicial nominees are awaiting floor votes
- 33 judicial nominees have been confirmed by the Senate in the past 15 month
Additional background:
- In August 2017, JCN launched a six-figure ad campaign calling for #GridlockReform
- Examples: A number of nominees including David Nye, Scott Palk, William Campbell Jr., Walter David Counts III. and Donald Coggins Jr. had previously been nominated by President Obama and were re-nominated by President Trump. Democrats nonetheless required cloture on these uncontroversial nominees, four of whom were ultimately confirmed unanimously.
| Nominee | District | Judicial Emergency? | Cloture Vote Date | Cloture Vote Outcome | Confirmation Vote Date | Confirmation Vote Outcome | Nomination Debated on Senate Floor |
| David Nye | D. Idaho | Yes | 7/10/2017 17:59 | 97-0 | 7/12/2017 12:27 | 100-0 | 7/10/17, 7/11/17 |
| Scott L. Palk | W.D. Oklahoma | No | 10/25/2017 10:31 | 79-18 | 10/26/2017 12:03 | 79-16 | 10/25/17, 10/26/17 |
| William Campbell Jr. | M.D. Tenn. | Yes | 1/8/2018 17:32 | 89-1 | 1/9/2018 14:17 | 97-0 | 1/8/2018, 1/9/18 |
| Walter David Counts III | W.D. Texas | Yes | 1/11/2018 12:41 | 90-1 | 1/11/2018 13:37 | 96-0 | 1/4/11, 1/11/18 |
| Donald C. Coggins Jr. | D. SC | Yes | 11/16/2017 12:34 | 96-1 | 11/16/2017 13:48 | 96-0 | 1/16/2018 |