For the 52 nominees to the federal courts waiting for action by the U.S. Senate—some for nearly two years—last night’s Republican sweep of the White House and Congress spells the end for their hopes of making it onto the bench.
Setting aside U.S. Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, whose nomination spurred deep political opposition even before it was announced in March, conventional wisdom says that most pending lower court nominees are unlikely to be confirmed, let alone get a hearing if they’re still before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
