Thurmond Rule Stands: ‘No’ on Bacharach

Heritage Action has issued a key vote alert on the nomination of Robert E. Bacharach to be the United State Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Heritage has declared that Mr. Bacharach’s qualifications or views aren’t the reason for the call to oppose his nomination but rather a violation of the traditions of the Senate. Democrats and Republicans have in the past invoked the “Thurmond/Leahy Rule” which prohibits the confirmation of lifetime judges in the months leading up to a presidential election. Heritage points out the hypocrisy as the Democrats ignore the rule now, but previously invoked the Thurmond rule in 2008:

“In March of 2008, Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) announced that ‘the ‘Thurmond Rule’ is a rule that we still follow, and it will take effect very soon here.’ Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) echoed that sentiment by saying, ‘there is a Thurmond doctrine that says: After June, we will have to take a real close look at judges in a Presidential election year. June is fast approaching, I believe that is the time set forth in the Thurmond doctrine.’”