Barack Obama appointed two justices to the United States Supreme Court, Elena Kagan and Sonya Sotomayor. But in some ways, it’s the justice he didn’t get confirmed who looms largest. When Justice Antonin Scalia unexpectedly died on a hunting trip at a Texas resort on February 13, 2016, Obama turned to the moderate D.C. Circuit Court Judge Merrick Garland, a pick believed to be acceptable to both sides.
Thank you for this very clear recitation of how we got here. The democratic process is alive and well and hopefully, these all important judicial appointments will be made.
I was unaware of the blue slip until you just explained it. Thank you for that lesson & for all that you do!!!! Policy progress might not be made in the next 2 years but at least judiciary confirmations will progress!!!
We should all celebrate and immediately turn to the task of stamping out autocracy, ensure the right to vote, expand women’s rights saul to men and gun procurement rules update.
This is NOT over. We have many election deniers in office. Desantis, Abbott, Sanders, etc. Thet may not wave the bloody shirt but they are stained with Christian Nationalistic Autocracy.
Georgia, we need you to elect Warnock on December 6th.
We need to neutralize the arrogance of Manchin and Sinema.
“For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”- Ted Kennedy.
The quote applies here. We cannot stop, cannot rest and cannot give ground.
Keep moving forward and take back what is ours.
Alito laughing, Barrett joking about us will not stop.
This is an excellent read. You and your “Sisters” should form a group to see that this advice is acted upon. Thank you so much for educating all of us about the intricacies of the court system. Our vote affects so many areas of government that we are not aware of. Long live our Democracy; we fought for it and want to keep it.
Thank you for the update on the judiciary. I wasn’t sure how many vacancies Biden had available. It is so important to get some judges who are not partisan on the bench. I really hope they ditch the blue slip. After McConnell’s back door power grab with Barrett, they don’t deserve to get the privilege of a blue slip. They have clearly shown they don’t intend to use it as intended.
Wow! I knew much of what took us from Garland to Kavanaugh
and then Barrett. I did not know about blue slips or how misused and unseemly the actions of McConnell were. The Federalist Society has long been concerning, but the mean petty even hateful behavior at their most recent meeting is not only destructive but juvenile. This all makes me even more relieved that we maintain control in the Senate. Thank you once again for showing us what goes on behind the curtain.
Thank you - a clear and timely reminder of the judicial undercurrent of the mid-term elections. Every election matters, and hopefully folks will remember over time that the implications go far beyond the top layer of which party can push through legislation.
Important information you laid out in this piece Joyce, it seems to me the Democrats and President Biden in particular need to remove any and all obstacles that would prevent the swift smooth confirmation of his Judicial Nominees..This blue slip practice may need to go the way of the filibuster and no longer play a role in this process..It also occurs to me that life tenure for a Justice or Judge is not the benefit to the country as was once thought..I see nothing in the Constitution that provides for it..a term limit law should be passed to protect the country against a court like we currently have..
I also had never heard of the “blue slip” unbelievable how something that originated to mean one thing changed so much over the years. A curtesy changed to a power play.
And McConnell don’t even get me started on him. I would not know where to stop.
Wow JV has done it again! Helped us make sense of this current mess. May every senator who blocked Garland, and shoved ACB down our aghast throats, suffer in a dark purgatory.
And yet Joyce’s explanation of what all Biden can now do is exceedingly hopeful.
Whew. It’s been a squeaker, folks! But Democracy is still breathing. ❤️
I punched the heart icon for "Like," because you have, as usual, walked us through this bit of judicial history concisely, thoroughly, and clearly. But I wanted to post a weeping icon, as I remembered so clearly that history.
This is great news!! I wonder why this wasn’t discussed more in the run up to the midterms? I certainly wasn’t tracking this as one of the terrible potential outcomes (non-lawyer fan here), tho it is logical now that you’ve spelled it out. Also, why are the Democrats doing such a bad job trumpeting the number of federal judges appointed? And why so lackluster with messaging in general?
Fingers crossed that Boebert loses her seat! I’m in WA and was delighted to see Joe Kent lose—maybe that’ll be disincentive for running extremists in primaries. And yay for Kim Schrier for keeping her seat! The path to keeping the House is narrow indeed, but I’m remaining hopeful.
Thanks as always for your clear and insightful analysis.
Thank you for this very clear recitation of how we got here. The democratic process is alive and well and hopefully, these all important judicial appointments will be made.
I was unaware of the blue slip until you just explained it. Thank you for that lesson & for all that you do!!!! Policy progress might not be made in the next 2 years but at least judiciary confirmations will progress!!!
I concur Joyce. The blue slip has to go. I'm so sick of the GOP obstruction on everything.
We should all celebrate and immediately turn to the task of stamping out autocracy, ensure the right to vote, expand women’s rights saul to men and gun procurement rules update.
This is NOT over. We have many election deniers in office. Desantis, Abbott, Sanders, etc. Thet may not wave the bloody shirt but they are stained with Christian Nationalistic Autocracy.
Georgia, we need you to elect Warnock on December 6th.
We need to neutralize the arrogance of Manchin and Sinema.
“For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”- Ted Kennedy.
The quote applies here. We cannot stop, cannot rest and cannot give ground.
Keep moving forward and take back what is ours.
Alito laughing, Barrett joking about us will not stop.
Thanks for all that you do.
This is an excellent read. You and your “Sisters” should form a group to see that this advice is acted upon. Thank you so much for educating all of us about the intricacies of the court system. Our vote affects so many areas of government that we are not aware of. Long live our Democracy; we fought for it and want to keep it.
Thank you for the update on the judiciary. I wasn’t sure how many vacancies Biden had available. It is so important to get some judges who are not partisan on the bench. I really hope they ditch the blue slip. After McConnell’s back door power grab with Barrett, they don’t deserve to get the privilege of a blue slip. They have clearly shown they don’t intend to use it as intended.
Joyce,
YOU hit the nail, again! Well, stated. Many thanks for your wise words. Many are counting on you.
And, how are the chicks?
Wow! I knew much of what took us from Garland to Kavanaugh
and then Barrett. I did not know about blue slips or how misused and unseemly the actions of McConnell were. The Federalist Society has long been concerning, but the mean petty even hateful behavior at their most recent meeting is not only destructive but juvenile. This all makes me even more relieved that we maintain control in the Senate. Thank you once again for showing us what goes on behind the curtain.
Thank you - a clear and timely reminder of the judicial undercurrent of the mid-term elections. Every election matters, and hopefully folks will remember over time that the implications go far beyond the top layer of which party can push through legislation.
Important information you laid out in this piece Joyce, it seems to me the Democrats and President Biden in particular need to remove any and all obstacles that would prevent the swift smooth confirmation of his Judicial Nominees..This blue slip practice may need to go the way of the filibuster and no longer play a role in this process..It also occurs to me that life tenure for a Justice or Judge is not the benefit to the country as was once thought..I see nothing in the Constitution that provides for it..a term limit law should be passed to protect the country against a court like we currently have..
I also had never heard of the “blue slip” unbelievable how something that originated to mean one thing changed so much over the years. A curtesy changed to a power play.
And McConnell don’t even get me started on him. I would not know where to stop.
Wow JV has done it again! Helped us make sense of this current mess. May every senator who blocked Garland, and shoved ACB down our aghast throats, suffer in a dark purgatory.
And yet Joyce’s explanation of what all Biden can now do is exceedingly hopeful.
Whew. It’s been a squeaker, folks! But Democracy is still breathing. ❤️
I punched the heart icon for "Like," because you have, as usual, walked us through this bit of judicial history concisely, thoroughly, and clearly. But I wanted to post a weeping icon, as I remembered so clearly that history.
This is great news!! I wonder why this wasn’t discussed more in the run up to the midterms? I certainly wasn’t tracking this as one of the terrible potential outcomes (non-lawyer fan here), tho it is logical now that you’ve spelled it out. Also, why are the Democrats doing such a bad job trumpeting the number of federal judges appointed? And why so lackluster with messaging in general?
Fingers crossed that Boebert loses her seat! I’m in WA and was delighted to see Joe Kent lose—maybe that’ll be disincentive for running extremists in primaries. And yay for Kim Schrier for keeping her seat! The path to keeping the House is narrow indeed, but I’m remaining hopeful.
Thanks as always for your clear and insightful analysis.
It's time to end life tenure for these people. Give them a 14 year term and mandatory retirement at 65.
And a code of ethics at the Un-Supreme Court.
Biden should fill all the judicial vacancies ASAP.
And Garland should accelerate to light speed the prosecution of the deranged Spectre of MAG-A-Loco.