Senate Democrats are weighing a major push in the coming weeks to confirm as many of U.S. President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees as they can in the lame-duck session of Congress, before their power to reshape the federal courts ends with the Republican takeover of the White House and the Senate in January.
Democrats had hoped to hold onto the Senate and the White House, allowing them to continue their drive to counterbalance the 234 conservative-leaning judges — including three Supreme Court justices — who were confirmed during the first Trump administration. But with the reelection of Donald Trump and Republicans winning control of the Senate, that possibility is now gone.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the majority leader who has prioritized judicial confirmations, on Friday indicated a willingness to devote significant Senate floor time to seating more judges in the postelection session that begins next week. About 30 nominees were already in the confirmation pipeline, and Biden announced two more Friday night.
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