FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2024
Contact: Leila Miller | press@indivisible.org
‘We’re counting on them to get it together.’
Washington, D.C. — Today, Leah Greenberg, Indivisible’s co-founder and co-executive director, released the following statement responding to Senate Democrats ongoing judicial confirmations:
“At the start of this final session of Congress, Indivisible called on Senate Democrats to prioritize confirming all of President Biden’s outstanding judicial nominees to Trump-proof our federal courts as much as possible before the incoming Republican Trifecta. The result of their effort has been a mixed bag.
“The Good: They just confirmed 235 of Biden’s judicial nominees and surpassed Trump’s record. That’s 235 qualified judges that are committed to upholding our rights and our democracy on the bench. As we go into another Trump presidency when we know that he’ll be trying to use the courts to greenlight his MAGA agenda, that’s a record we can and should celebrate.
“The Bad: They’re leaving unconfirmed circuit court nominees on the table as part of the deal that Majority Leader Schumer made with Republicans back in November. The deal means the Senate could go home on time but at the cost of these critical seats – forcing three judges over the age of 70 to put off their retirement to keep those seats filled with the hope that they stay healthy and are able to serve through the next four years. And we’re forced to rely on that questionable strategy because Schumer underestimated the extent to which Manchin and Sinema would continue to obstruct votes until the very end of their Senate careers.
“But that wasn’t even the first time that Senate Democrats let Republicans interfere with the confirmation process. Earlier this year, some Democrats shamefully caved to the outrageous, right-wing Islamophobic smear campaign against Adeel Mangi, tanking his confirmation and leaving a lifetime appointment open for Trump to fill with a MAGA judge. And that’s to say nothing of all the seats that remain vacant because Durbin, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, insisted on upholding the blue slip rule that allowed Republicans to block nominees from their home state.
“Senate Democrats need to show us that they’re going to fight against the MAGA agenda, not preemptively concede to Republicans when the going gets rough. And they’ll get the chance to set the tone early next year when the Republican majority starts trying to confirm all of Trump’s horrifying nominees. We’re counting on them to get it together.”
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