Twice As Many Confirmations In Half The Time

A Clear Necessity: Since The Rules Change Last Month, The Senate Has Confirmed 45 Nominees In 21 Days, While Before It Took 48 Days To Confirm 23 Nominees

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “After two years of systematic heel-dragging from our friends across the aisle, even on the least controversial nominations, the modest reform the Senate adopted last month is helping us get back on track…. [Previously, these nominees] would’ve tied up the floor for days before being confirmed anyway. So they are perfect examples of why the Senate returned to our long-standing norms for processing lower-level nominations. And now the American people are getting the government they elected at a more reasonable pace.” (Sen. McConnell, Remarks, 5/09/2019)

Why The Rules Change Was Necessary: Nearly Twice As Many Confirmations In Half The Time

On April 3, 2019, in the face of unprecedented and systematic obstruction by Senate Democrats on even the least controversial nominations, the Senate voted to change its rules on lower-level executive branch and district court nominations, to reduce the post-cloture time spent on them.

Before the April 3 rules change:

48 Days in Session

23 Nominees Confirmed

(“Days in Session of the U.S. Congress,” Congress.gov, Accessed 5/23/2019; Congress.gov, Accessed 5/23/2019)

After the April 3 rule change:

21 Days in Session

45 Nominees Confirmed

(“Days in Session of the U.S. Congress,” Congress.gov, Accessed 5/23/2019; Congress.gov, Accessed 5/23/2019)

4 District Judges Confirmed In 2 Days This Week, Compared To 4 Days To Confirm 4 District Judges In January 2018

This week the Senate was able to confirm 4 district court judges in only two days, from the first cloture vote to the final confirmation vote. (PN244, 116^th Congress; PN226, 116^th Congress; PN243, 116^th Congress; PN218, 116^th Congress)

Compare that to January 2018, before the rules change, when it took 4 days to confirm 4 uncontroversial district court judges, from the first cloture vote to the final confirmation vote. (“Roll Call Votes 115th Congress - 2nd Session (2018),” U.S. Senate Website, Accessed 3/06/2019; PN748, 115^th Congress; PN752, 115^th Congress; PN747, 115^th Congress; PN1015, 115^th Congress)

This Week’s Judicial Nominees Were First Nominated Last Year, And Waited Nearly Five Years Combined For Confirmation

The Senate this week confirmed four district court nominees whose combined time waiting for confirmation amounts to NEARLY FIVE YEARS since their nominations were first received by the Senate.

Howard C. Nielson, Jr. to be United States District Judge for the District of Utah
- Nomination first received January 10, 2018.
- Confirmed May 22, 2019.

(PN1053. 115^th Congress; PN244, 116^th Congress)

Stephen R. Clark, Sr. to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri
- Nomination first received April 12, 2018.
- Confirmed May 22, 2019.

(PN1829, 115^th Congress; PN226, 116^th Congress)

Carl J. Nichols to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia
- Nomination first received June 18, 2018.
- Confirmed May 22, 2019.

(PN2145, 115^th Congress; PN243, 116^th Congress)

Kenneth D. Bell to be United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina
- Nomination first received April 12, 2018.
- Confirmed May 22, 2019.

(PN1828, 115^th Congress; PN218, 116^th Congress)

The Senate Continues To Confirm Well-Qualified Circuit Court Nominees At A Rapid Pace

This week, the Senate confirmed its 41st circuit court of appeals judge since January 2017. (Congress.gov, Accessed 5/23/2019)

‘Nearly A Quarter Of The Circuit Court System’ Has Been Nominated By President Trump And Confirmed By The Republican Senate

Court of Appeals Authorized Judgeships: 179

Circuit Court of Appeals judges confirmed by 115^th – 116^th Congresses: 41

Percentage of all authorized appeals court judgeships nominated by President Trump and confirmed: 22.9%

(“Judicial Vacancies,” United States Courts Website, Accessed 5/22/2019; Congress.gov, Accessed 5/22/2019)

“The Senate confirmed its 40th circuit court judge on Wednesday, filling nearly a quarter of the circuit court system with conservative appointments under President Trump.” (The New York Times, 5/15/2019)

“McConnell’s pace of filling federal court seats has been eye-popping, especially on the powerful appellate circuits.” (“McConnell's Laser Focus On Transforming The Judiciary,” Politico, 10/17/2018)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

Related Issues: Restoring the Senate, Nominations, Judicial Nominations

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