WASHINGTON (AP) — Demand Justice, a progressive organization focused on the judiciary, is urging Senate Democrats to prioritize confirming President Joe Biden's judicial nominees as the 118th Congress nears its end. With just seven weeks left of Democratic control in the Senate, Democrats have confirmed 213 of Biden's nominees, with several dozen still pending.
The push for confirmations comes as Democrats aim to prevent further conservative appointments by President-elect Donald Trump, who secured a Republican victory in the recent election. The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced 17 judicial nominees, with eight awaiting committee votes and six awaiting hearings.
The Senate, which returned from a break, faces a packed schedule that includes confirming judges, providing disaster aid, passing the defense policy bill, and funding the government. Some Democratic senators are set to leave at the end of the session, potentially impacting the confirmation process.
Despite challenges, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed determination to confirm as many nominees as possible. The White House emphasized the importance of timely confirmations, highlighting the impact of delays on constituents and court backlogs.
Sen. Dick Durbin, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, hopes to confirm around two dozen nominees during the lame-duck session. Demand Justice and other advocacy groups are intensifying lobbying efforts to ensure prompt confirmation votes.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren and The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights have also called for swift action on judicial nominees. The urgency to confirm judges before the new Congress underscores the critical role of the judiciary in upholding the rule of law and protecting citizens' rights.
