Senate Dems want to nix the blue slip. Let them

Senate Democrats were reportedly “aghast” (at least according to the Associated Press) at the number of judicial appointments the Republicans were able to secure during Donald Trump’s presidency. They’ve been trying to make up some lost ground since Joe Biden was sworn in and have thus far confirmed 100 judges in the first two years. But in the hope of speeding up the process even further, they are now considering abandoning the practice of using “blue slips.” Those are the forms that the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee sends to the senators representing the home state of the nominee in question. If the slips are not returned with a positive endorsement, the nomination is typically abandoned. They can do this if they like, but it’s yet another case of needing to be careful what you wish for.Read More