Senator Leahy Promises to Keep Judicial Nominees Moving

“Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today said he would continue to try confirming President Barack Obama’s judicial nominees, despite a Senate GOP leadership decision to block all circuit court nominations until after the November elections.”

Leahy’s remarks clash with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s recent decision to blockade Obama nominees by invoking the Thurmond Rule. The Thurmond Rule holds that within six months of a presidential election the opposition party can refuse to allow votes on circuit court judges. Republicans maintain that they are on the same pace of confirming circuit judges as Democrats were under George W. Bush and therefore are entitled to invoke the Thurmond Rule.