Time to Vote Senators!

President Bush’s nomination of Judge Samuel Alito was formally received by the U.S. Senate on November 10, 2005, therefore, even if the full Senate voted on his nomination this Wednesday (the earliest possible day they could), the number of days between the nomination being received and the final action by the Senate would be 77. How does this compare with the past SCOTUS nominations?

Median number of days from between date received in the Senate and final action, 1789-2005: 10

Median number of days from between date received in the Senate and final action, 1789-1966: 7

Median number of days from between date received in the Senate and final action, 1967-2005: 67

Obviously (and unfortunately), the judicial nomination process has become much more politicized since 1967. However, even by that standard, the Senate is already ten days past the median.

Senators, it’s time to give Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. an up-or-down vote!

Source: Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, “Supreme Court Nominations, 1789 – 2005: Actions by the Senate, the Judiciary Committee, and the President,” January 5, 2006