Senate Republicans Deciding If They'll Confirm Judicial Nominees During Lame-Duck Session

November 15, 2012

Senate Republicans are split on whether to consider confirmation of judicial nominees, many of which have been pending for several months, during the lame-duck session or wait until the next Congress. Prior to the election, there were 19 stalled nominations to the district courts and courts of appeals, and in the week following the election, President Obama announced seven new district court nominees. If senators wait until the next Congress, the president must re-nominate the pending candidates.