In just the past week, the Senate confirmed half a dozen of Trump’s judicial nominees, continuing a streak that’s left Democrats visibly frustrated.
Since the start of Trump’s second term, 33 judges have sailed through confirmation — already eclipsing his entire first-term total. By comparison, during Trump’s first year in office, the Senate confirmed 19 Article III judges, including Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.
While Senate Republicans are moving fast and confirming judges at a blistering pace,there are mounting calls to scrap one of the Senate’s oldest customs — the “blue slip.”
The century-old practice haslong allowed home-state senators to weigh in on judicial nominations before they advance, but Democrats have been abusing it,turning it intoa de facto vetoon nominees they don’t like.
Trump has wanted the tradition gone because of the way Democrats have abused it.
Last year, he reportedly told Senate Republicans to “get rid of blue slips, because, as a Republican President, I am unable to put anybody in office having to do with U.S. attorneys or having to do with judges."
Some Republicans sympathize with Trump’s view, seeing the blue slip as an outdated relic that slows confirmations.
But others see danger in dismantling another institutional guardrail.
“Nuking the blue slip would be a huge mistake,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)toldFox News Digital, joining several colleagues warning that a short-term rules victory could backfire the next time Democrats control the Senate.
For them, the issue isn’t about speed — it’s about reciprocity.
Source: ZeroHedge News
