Staff Reports
stakes couldn’t be higher for President Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats. They’re racing the clock to confirm a flurry of judicial nominees before the baton is passed to Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump in January. It appears Democrats are looking to make a giant leap out of the door, but the question stands: can they outpace the Trump judicial juggernaut?
During Trump’s initial term, he prioritized judicial appointments as if they were going out of style, resulting in an impressive 237 federal judges confirmed, including three Supreme Court justices and a slew of appeals court nominees. Biden is now trying to catch up, having appointed 213 judges so far but still trailing by a margin that could seem insurmountable in these frantic final weeks.
Quinnipiac just released new approval polls for the state of Pennsylvania 👇
Gov. Shapiro:
57% Approve, 23% Disapprove
Sen. Fetterman:
39% Approve, 50% Disapprove (!!) pic.twitter.com/EtOyNhnLKA
— some guy from PA (@Pennthusiast) June 28, 2023
Just recently, the Senate managed to scrape together a vote of 51-44 to confirm April Perry for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The cries for more judicial confirmations are echoing from the Democratic ranks as the Judiciary Committee prepares more nominees for a vote. But can they really achieve the monumental feat of surpassing Trump’s impressive judicial record? Speculation looms as Biden’s chance to outdo Trump could hinge on whether he can rally his party amidst fragile alliances.
Trump is loudly rallying Republicans to obstruct any further judge confirmations, reminding everyone that Democrats are chomping at the bit to push through judicial activists during this chaotic time. He blasts the notion of approving any judges right now, claiming it’s simply unacceptable for Democrats to jam their nominees through while the GOP wrestles with leadership. Talk about a team player!
With 47 vacancies on the judicial bench, there’s a palpable urgency among Senate Democrats. These empty seats could be filled with conservative judges who would tilt the scales further to the right, solidifying Trump’s influence in the judiciary for the long haul. As Trump returns to office ready to fill these positions with like-minded judges, it’s a game of strategic chess, and Democrats are frantically trying to make their best moves before the clock runs out.
Despite the high stakes, there’s trouble brewing in the Democratic camp. Senator Joe Manchin’s allegiance wavers, with the independent senator signaling he’ll only back nominees that garner bipartisan support. As this rickety coalition hangs by a thread, Republicans are already sharpening their opposition to Biden’s nominee list, following Trump’s clarion call to forestall any activist judges that might threaten the great American way.
Amidst the push and pull, Biden’s modernizing judicial appointments include a significant number of diverse candidates, shaking the previous conservative mold established under Trump. This surge of diversity has raised eyebrows among some and sparked an ongoing debate over qualifications versus representation. However, the overarching concern remains: can Biden manage to confirm a sufficient number of judges to maintain some semblance of balance before Trump walks back in with his checklist of ‘conservative vision’ appointments?
The race to secure Biden’s final nominations seems to be less about preparing to govern effectively come January and more about Democrats desperately scrambling to hold off the impending rightward shift in the federal bench. With everything on the line and only days left, the Senate becomes a battleground, and it will be an intriguing spectacle to see if Biden can pull off this judicial heist before the red curtain falls.
