Democrats and Republicans have cooperated when assisting the courts in certain areas during the first session of Congress. One important field is judicial selection. The federal judiciary currently experiences 82 vacancies, while the chief executive has nominated 46 candidates. The bench should be grateful that the president has nominated, and the Senate has confirmed, two exceptional Supreme Court Justices, 23 outstanding circuit judges and 98 fine district judges. Obama has consulted with Democrat and Republican elected officials prior to nominations and has chosen very qualified people, although the White House might pick up the pace.
The judiciary should also thank Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), the ranking member, for speeding panel review and Sen. Henry Reid (D-Nev.), the majority leader, for attempting to work closely with Republicans on confirming nominees. One sign of cooperation came last week when Leahy acceded to Grassley’s request that the panel hold no more nomination hearings this year.
