Role of Home State Senators in the Selection of Lower Federal Court Judges

^Pr^ep^ar^{ed f}^o^r^M^e^m^b^ers^an^d^Com^mⁱ^t^t^ees^of^C^ong^r^e^ss

Supported by the custom of “senatorial courtesy,” Senators of the President’s party have long
played, as a general rule, the primary role in selecting candidates for the President to nominate to
federal district court judgeships in their states. They also have played an influential, if not
primary, role in recommending candidates for federal circuit court judgeships associated with
their states. For Senators who are not of the President’s party, a consultative role, with the
opportunity to convey to the President their views about candidates under consideration for
judgeships in their states, also has been a long-standing practice—and one supported by the “blue
slip” procedure of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senators, in general, exert less influence over the selection of circuit court nominees. Whereas
home state Senators of the President’s party often dictate whom the President nominates to
district judgeships, their recommendations for circuit nominees, by contrast, typically compete
with names suggested to the Administration by other sources or generated by the Administration
on its own.
Whether and how a state’s two Senators share in the judicial selection role will depend, to a great
extent, on their respective prerogatives and interests. Senators have great discretion as to the
procedures they will use to identify and evaluate judicial candidates, ranging from informally
conducting candidate searches on their own to relying on nominating commissions to evaluate
candidates. Contact between a Senator’s office and the Administration can be expected to clarify
the nature of the Senator’s recommending role, including the degree to which the Administration,
in its judicial candidate search, will rely on the Senator’s recommendations.
If a President selects a district or circuit court nominee against the advice of, or without
consulting, a home state Senator, the latter must decide whether to oppose the nomination (either
first in the Senate Judiciary Committee or later on the Senate floor). From the Senator’s
standpoint, opposition to the nomination might serve a number of purposes, including helping to
prevent confirmation or influencing the Administration to take consultation more seriously in the
future. On the other hand, various considerations might influence the Senator not to oppose the
nomination, including the desirability of filling the vacant judgeship as promptly as possible and,
if more home state vacancies are possible in the future, whether these might provide the Senator a
better opportunity for exerting influence over judicial appointments.
In recent years, the role of home state Senators in recommending judicial candidates has given
rise to various issues, including the following: What constitutes “good faith” or “serious”
consultation by the Administration? Should home state Senators always have the opportunity to
provide their opinion of a judicial candidate before he or she is nominated? How differently
should the Administration treat the input of Senators, depending on their party affiliation? What
prerogatives should home state Senators have in the selection of circuit court nominees? Should
the policy of the Judiciary Committee allow a home state Senator to block committee
consideration of a judicial nominee?

Introduc tion ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Background and Origins of Senators’ Recommending Role...........................................................2
The Senate’s Exercise of “Advice and Consent”......................................................................2
Role for Senators in Selecting Nominees Linked to Their States.............................................3
Senatorial Courtesy...................................................................................................................4
Blue Slip Policy of Senate Judiciary Committee......................................................................8
Senators’ Party Affiliations and Their Recommending Role..........................................................11
When One Senator Is of the President’s Party.........................................................................11
When Both Senators Are of the President’s Party...................................................................13
When Neither Senator Is of the President’s Party...................................................................15
The Customary Model: Officials in the State Who Are of the President’s Party
Play the Primary Recommending Role..........................................................................15
Exceptions to the Customary Model, Where Senators Play a Primary
Recommending Role.....................................................................................................17
Lesser Role for Senators When Recommending Circuit Court Candidates..................................20
Selecting Judicial Candidates to Recommend...............................................................................24
Learning of the Vacancy..........................................................................................................24
Relationship with the Other Home State Senator....................................................................25
First Option: Only One Senator Would Be Actively Involved in Selecting Judicial
Candidates......................................................................................................................25
Second Option: The Two Senators Apportion between Themselves the Selection
of Candidates.................................................................................................................25
Third Option: The Two Senators Work Together in Selecting Each Candidate................26
Criteria Used to Select Judicial Candidates............................................................................26
Procedures Used to Identify and Evaluate Candidates............................................................28
Interaction with Administration During Nominee Selection Process............................................32
Administration Entities and Their Roles.................................................................................32
Clarifying the Senator’s Role..................................................................................................35
Consultation at Different Stages of the Process......................................................................37
When a Nominee Is Selected against the Advice of, or Without Consulting, a Senator...............39
Option of Opposing the Nomination in Committee or on the Senate Floor............................39
Option of Not Opposing the Nomination................................................................................42
Current Issues and Concluding Observations................................................................................43
Wide Acceptance of Importance of Pre-Nomination Consultation.........................................43
Recent Controversies over Administrations’ Consultation with Senators...............................44
Specific Issues Concerning the Recommending Role of Home State Senators......................49
What Constitutes “Good Faith” or “Serious” Consultation?............................................49
Should Home State Senators Always Have the Opportunity to Provide Their
Opinion of a Judicial Candidate Before He or She Is Nominated?...............................49
How Differently Should the Administration Treat the Input of Senators,
Depending on Their Party Affiliation?...........................................................................50
What Prerogatives Should Home State Senators Have in the Selection of Circuit
Court Nominees?...........................................................................................................50

Should the Policy of the Judiciary Committee Allow a Home State Senator to
Block Committee Consideration of a Judicial Nominee?..............................................52
Consultation Between the President and Home State Senators in the Current
Envi ronment .................................................................................................................... ..... 54
Author Contact Information..........................................................................................................55

By long-standing custom, Senators of the President’s party, as a general rule, have played the
primary role in selecting candidates for the President to nominate to federal district court
judgeships in their states. They also generally have played an influential, if not primary, role in
recommending candidates for federal circuit court judgeships associated with their states. For
Senators who are not of the President’s party, a consultative role, with the opportunity to convey
to the President their views about candidates under consideration for judgeships in their states,
has been a long-standing practice as well.
In recent years, however, the role to be played by “home state Senators” in the selection process
for lower court judges has periodically been the subject of debate. With controversy frequently
arising in the Senate over whether that body should confirm various of the President’s judicial ¹
nominees, part of the contention sometimes has involved the question of whether, or to what
degree, Senators should play a role in advising the President on whom to select as judicial ²
nominees from their states. To assist in examining that question, this report provides an analysis
of the role that home state Senators, historically and in the contemporary era, have played in the
lower court selection process.
Specifically, this report examines the role played by Senators in the selection of nominees to two
kinds of lower court judgeships—to U.S. district court judgeships in the federal judicial districts
lying geographically within the Senators’ states and to U.S. court of appeals judgeships in the ³
judicial circuits of which the Senators’ states are a geographic part. In separate sections the
report discusses:
• the historical origins of the role of Senators recommending persons for
nomination to lower court judgeships—particularly, the custom of “senatorial
courtesy” and the Senate Judiciary Committee’s long-standing “blue slip”
procedure;
• the effect of Senators’ political party affiliation on their role as recommenders of
judicial candidates from their state;

¹^S^ee,^f^o^{r exa}^m^p^l^e,^“^A^cri^m^oⁿ^y^Rei^gⁿ^s^o^v^{er Ju}^dⁱ^ci^al^Pⁱ^cks,^{” i}ⁿ^C^Q^A^l^m^anac^Plus^,²⁰⁰²^{, v}^o^l.⁵⁸⁽^W^a^s^hing^ton:
^Cong^re^ssiona^{l Qua}^r^te^rly^Inc^{., 2}⁰⁰³^),^pp.¹³^.1^2-1³^.^{13; “}^J^u^d^ic^ia^{l No}^mⁱ^ne^e^Ba^ttle^{s Inte}^nsify^,^”ⁱⁿ^C^Q^A^l^m^anac^Plus^,
²⁰⁰³^{, v}^o^l^.^{59 (}^W^a^s^hing^to^{n: C}^ong^r^e^s^sⁱ^ona^{l Q}^u^a^r^te^r^l^y^Iⁿ^c^{., 20}⁰⁴⁾^{, p}^.^13.¹⁹^{; “}^A^c^rⁱ^m^on^y^ov^e^r^J^udg^e^s^C^onti^nue^s^,^”ⁱⁿ^CQ
^A^l^ma^na^{c P}^l^u^s^,²⁰⁰⁴^{, v}^o^l^.⁶⁰⁽^W^a^s^hing^to^{n: C}^o^ng^r^e^s^sⁱ^ona^{l Q}^u^a^r^te^r^l^y^Iⁿ^c^{., 200}⁵⁾^,^pp.¹²^.1^5-¹²^.^16;^“^‘^G^a^ng^o^f^14’^A^v^e^r^ts
^J^udicⁱ^a^l^S^how^dow^n,”ⁱⁿ^C^Q^Alm^a^nac^Pl^us^,²⁰⁰⁵^,^v^o^l.⁶¹⁽^W^a^s^hing^ton:^C^o^ng^r^e^s^sⁱ^ona^{l Q}^u^a^r^te^r^l^y^Iⁿ^c^{., 20}⁰⁶⁾^{, p}^p^.^14.^8-^th
^14.^{9; a}ⁿ^{d S}^h^e^l^d^{on G}^o^ldm^a^{n e}^t^a^l^.^,^“^P^ic^kⁱ^ng^Judg^e^sⁱⁿ^a^Tⁱ^m^e^of^T^u^rm^{oil: W}^.^{Bush’s Judic}ⁱ^a^r^y^Durin^g^the¹⁰⁹
^C^ong^r^e^s^s^,^”^J^udic^a^t^u^r^e^{, v}^o^l.⁹⁰^{, M}^a^y^-^J^une²⁰⁰^7,^pp^{. 2}^52-²⁸^{3. (}^H^e^r^e^a^f^t^e^r^c^ite^{d a}^s^G^o^ldm^a^{n e}^t^a^l^{., “}^P^ic^kⁱ^ng^J^udg^e^s^.”⁾
²^Se^e^,ⁱⁿ^this^v^e^in,^a^dis^c^us^sⁱ^on^by^judicⁱ^a^l^a^p^p^o^intm^eⁿ^ts^s^c^hola^r^sⁱⁿ²⁰⁰⁵^of^“^t^he^de^ba^te^ov^e^r^the^s^c^o^p^e^of^c^ons^ulta^ti^on
^tha^t^the^[^G^e^o^rg^e^W^.^]^B^ush^W^h^ite^House^ha^{s a}ⁿ^{d sh}^oul^d^ha^v^e^w^{ith s}^e^na^{tors, pre}^s^um^a^b^ly^of^aⁿ^y^politic^a^l^stripe^....^”
^S^h^el^doⁿ^G^o^l^d^m^aⁿ^et^al^.^,^“W^.^Bu^s^h^{’s Ju}^di^ci^ary^:^T^h^{e F}ⁱ^rst^T^e^r^m^Rec^o^rd^,^”^Judⁱ^ca^t^u^re^,^vo^l^.⁸⁸^,^M^a^y^-^Juⁿ^e²⁰⁰⁵^,^p.²⁴^9.
^(Herea^f^t^{er ci}^t^e^d^as^G^o^l^d^m^aⁿ^et^al^.^,^“W^.^Bu^sh^{’s Jud}ⁱ^ci^ary^:^T^h^{e F}ⁱ^rst^T^e^r^m^Re^co^rd^.^”⁾
³^T^h^is^r^e^por^t,^{it s}^h^ou^ld^beⁿ^o^te^d,^d^o^e^s^not^c^o^v^e^r^the^r^o^le^pla^y^e^d^by^S^e^na^tor^sⁱⁿ^the^s^e^le^c^tio^{n of}^pe^r^s^oⁿ^s^nom^ina^t^e^d^by^the
^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t t}^o^be^U^.^{S. a}^t^t^o^rⁿ^e^y^s^or^U^.^{S. m}^a^r^s^ha^ls^{in the}^Se^na^tor^s^’^s^t^a^t^e^s^{. A}^l^s^o^outsⁱ^de^t^h^e^s^c^ope^of^this^r^e^por^{t a}^r^e^t^h^e
^s^e^le^c^{tion pr}^oc^e^s^s^e^s^f^o^r^nom^ine^e^s^{to d}ⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^or^cⁱ^r^c^{uit c}^o^ur^tsⁱⁿ^j^u^rⁱ^s^d^ic^tio^nsⁿ^o^{t g}^e^og^r^a^phic^a^lly^c^onne^c^t^e^d^{to s}^t^a^t^e^s⁽^aⁿ^d
^t^h^u^sⁿ^o^t^rep^r^esen^t^e^d^b^y^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^rs).^S^p^eci^fⁱ^cal^l^y^,ⁿ^o^t^examⁱⁿ^ed^h^e^reiⁿ^{are t}^h^{e sel}^ectⁱ^o^{n p}^r^o^{cesses f}^o^{r n}^o^mⁱⁿ^{ees t}^o^t^h^e
^U^.^{S. D}ⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^C^our^t^f^o^r^the^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^of^C^o^lum^b^ia^{, the}^U^.^{S. C}^our^t^of^A^ppe^a^l^s^f^o^r^the^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^of^C^o^lum^b^ia^Cⁱ^r^c^uit^,^the
^U^.^{S. D}ⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^C^our^t^f^o^r^the^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^of^Pue^r^to^Rⁱ^c^o^{, a}^nd^the^U^.^S^.^C^o^ur^{t of}^A^ppe^a^l^s^f^o^r^the^Fe^de^r^a^{l C}ⁱ^r^c^{uit (}^a^c^our^{t w}^h^ic^h
^is^he^a^d^q^u^a^r^te^r^e^{d in}^W^a^s^h^ing^t^on,^D^.^C^{., a}ⁿ^{d ha}^s^na^tio^nw^ide^jurⁱ^s^d^ic^tⁱ^on^de^fⁱ^ne^{d by}^s^ubje^c^t^m^a^tte^r⁾^.

• the lesser role that Senators generally play when recommending circuit court, as
opposed to district court, candidates;
• the process by which Senators evaluate and select judicial candidates;
• Senators’ contacts with a President’s administration after they make their
recommendations but before the President selects a nominee;
• the options available to home state Senators when the President selects a judicial
nominee against their advice, or without consulting them; and
• issues that have arisen in recent years over the proper role, and degree of
influence, for home state Senators in the selection of nominees for U.S. district
and circuit court judgeships.

The President’s appointments of judges in the federal court system are made subject to the ⁴
approval of the Senate. These appointments take place through a process, provided for in the
Constitution, in which the President nominates and appoints persons to federal office “by and ⁵
with the Advice and Consent of the Senate.” Exceptions to this rule are the relatively rare
judicial appointments which the President alone makes, without the requirement of Senate ⁶
approval, through his power, under the Constitution, to make temporary “recess appointments.”

⁴^Su^bje^c^t^to^Se^na^te^c^onf^ir^m^a^{tion, t}^h^e^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t^m^a^k^e^s^judi^cⁱ^a^l^a^p^p^oⁱⁿ^tm^eⁿ^{ts to the}^f^o^ll^ow^ing^f^e^de^ra^{l c}^ourts—t^he
^Supr^e^m^e^C^our^t^of^the^Uⁿ^ite^d^Sta^t^e^s^{, U}^.^{S. C}ⁱ^r^c^ui^{t C}^o^ur^ts^of^A^ppe^a^l^s^,^U^.^{S. D}ⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^C^our^ts⁽ⁱ^nc^l^udi^ng^the^T^e^r^r^itorⁱ^a^l
^c^our^ts⁾^,^U^.^{S. C}^our^t^of^Iⁿ^te^rⁿ^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^a^{l T}^r^a^d^e^,^U^.^{S. C}^o^ur^{t of}^Fe^de^r^a^{l C}^l^aⁱ^m^s^{, U}^.^{S. T}^a^x^C^our^{t, U}^.^S^.^C^o^ur^t^of^A^ppe^a^l^s^f^o^r
^Ve^te^r^a^ns^C^l^aⁱ^m^s^{, a}^{nd U}^.^{S. C}^our^t^of^A^ppe^a^l^s^f^o^r^the^A^r^m^e^{d For}^c^e^s^{. (}^R^e^g^a^r^ding^the^r^o^le^pla^y^e^d^by^Sena^tor^sⁱⁿ^t^h^e
^a^ppoi^ntm^e^{nt of}^Supr^e^m^e^C^our^{t J}^u^s^tic^e^s^{, s}^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^L³¹⁹⁸^9,^Supr^e^m^e^C^o^ur^{t A}^p^p^o^intm^eⁿ^{t Pr}^oc^e^s^s^:^Role^s^{of t}^h^e
^P^r^esi^d^en^t^,^Judⁱ^ci^a^r^{y C}^o^mmi^t^t^ee,^aⁿ^d^S^e^na^t^e^,^b^y^Denⁱ^{s S}^t^even^Ru^t^k^u^s^.⁾^T^h^{e P}^r^esi^d^eⁿ^t^al^so^a^p^poⁱⁿ^t^s^,^su^b^j^ect^t^o^S^eⁿ^a^t^e
^c^onf^ir^m^a^{tion, j}^udg^e^s^to^tw^{o loc}^a^l^c^our^ts^—^t^he^Su^pe^rⁱ^or^C^our^t^of^the^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^of^C^o^lum^b^ia^aⁿ^d^the^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^of^C^o^lum^b^ia
^C^our^{t of}^A^ppe^a^l^s^.
^Fe^de^r^a^{l judg}^e^s^w^hom^the^P^r^e^sⁱ^d^eⁿ^{t d}^o^e^sⁿ^o^{t a}^p^poi^nt^inc^l^u^d^e^the^f^o^llowⁱ^ng^{: ba}^nk^r^u^p^t^c^y^judg^e^s⁽^a^ppo^inte^d^by^the^U^.^S.
^C^our^ts^of^A^ppe^a^l^s⁾^{; a}^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tiv^e^la^w^judg^e^s⁽^a^ppointe^d^by^f^e^de^r^a^{l e}^x^e^c^u^tiv^e^a^g^eⁿ^cⁱ^e^s⁾^;^m^a^gⁱ^s^t^r^a^te^{s (}^a^ppo^inte^d^by^the
^{U.S. Distric}^t^C^ourts);^a^nd^tria^{l a}ⁿ^{d in}^te^rm^e^d^ia^te^c^{ourt j}^u^d^g^{es i}ⁿ^t^h^e^A^r^med^F^o^{rces (ap}^p^oⁱ^nt^ed^b^y^t^h^e^Ju^d^g^{e A}^d^vo^cat^e
^G^eⁿ^e^r^a^{l in}^each^m^ilitar^y^ser^v^ice).
⁵^A^r^tic^le^I^I^,^Se^c^tion^{2, C}^l^a^u^s^e^{2. I}ⁿ^f^u^lle^r^pa^r^t^{, C}^l^a^u^s^e^{2 pr}^ov^ide^s^tha^t^the^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t “}^s^ha^ll^nom^ina^t^e^,^aⁿ^{d by}^a^{nd w}^{ith the}
^A^d^vⁱ^ce^a^{nd C}^o^ns^eⁿ^{t of}^the^Se^na^te^{, s}^h^a^{ll a}^p^poi^{nt A}^m^ba^s^s^a^dor^s^,^ot^he^r^pu^blic^Mⁱ^nis^t^e^r^s^aⁿ^{d C}^o^ns^uls^,^J^udg^e^s^of^the
^s^upr^e^m^e^C^our^{t, a}ⁿ^{d a}^ll^othe^r^O^f^fⁱ^c^e^r^s^of^the^Uⁿ^ite^{d Sta}^t^e^s^,^w^hos^e^A^ppointm^e^nts^a^r^e^not^he^r^eⁱⁿ^othe^r^w^is^e^pr^ov^ide^d^f^o^r^,
^a^{nd w}^h^ic^{h s}^h^a^ll^be^e^s^ta^blis^he^{d by}^L^a^w^:^{but the}^C^ong^r^e^s^s^m^a^y^b^y^La^w^v^e^s^t^the^A^ppointm^e^{nt of}^s^u^c^h^inf^e^rⁱ^or^O^f^fⁱ^c^e^r^s^,
^a^s^the^y^think^pr^ope^r^,ⁱⁿ^the^Pr^e^s^id^eⁿ^{t a}^l^one^,ⁱⁿ^the^C^our^t^of^L^a^w^,^or^{in t}^h^e^H^e^a^d^s^of^D^e^pa^r^t^m^e^nts^.^”
⁶^Sp^ecifⁱ^call^y^,^A^r^{ticle II, Sectio}ⁿ²^,^Clau^{se 3}^o^f^th^{e U.S.}^Coⁿ^s^titu^tioⁿ^em^p^o^w^er^{s th}^e^P^r^esid^en^{t “t}^o^f^ill^u^p^all^V^acan^cies
^t^h^at^m^a^y^h^a^p^p^eⁿ^du^riⁿ^g^t^h^{e Reces}^{s o}^f^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^e^,^b^y^gr^an^tⁱⁿ^{g Co}^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^oⁿ^s^w^hⁱ^c^h^sh^al^l^expⁱ^{re at}^t^h^e^Eⁿ^{d o}^f^t^h^ei^rⁿ^e^xt
^Se^s^sⁱ^on.”^Si^nc^e^the^fⁱ^r^s^{t A}^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion^of^G^e^or^ge^Wa^s^h^ing^t^on,^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^ts^ha^v^e^m^a^de^m^o^r^e^thaⁿ³⁰⁰^r^e^c^e^s^s
^a^ppoi^ntm^e^nts^{to t}^h^e^f^e^de^r^a^{l judic}ⁱ^a^r^y^,^inc^l^udi^ng¹²^t^o^the^Su^pr^e^m^e^C^our^t.^Se^e^H^e^nr^y^B^.^H^o^g^u^e^,^“^T^he^L^a^w^:^R^e^ce^s^s
^A^ppointm^e^nts^{to A}^r^tic^le^{III Cour}^t^s^,”^Pr^e^s^ideⁿ^tial^St^udie^s^Q^uar^te^r^l^y^{, v}^o^l.^32,^Se^pt^{. 2}⁰⁰⁴^,^pp^{. 6}^56-⁶⁷³^;^a^{nd C}^R^{S R}^e^p^o^r^t
^R^L³²⁹⁷^1,^Judⁱ^ci^al^R^{ecess A}^p^poⁱⁿ^t^m^en^t^s^{: A}^L^e^ga^l^Overvi^ew^{, by}^T^.^J^.^H^a^ls^te^a^d^.

The Senate most visibly exercises its “advice and consent” role with respect to judicial
appointments when Senators vote on a nomination—either in committee (on whether to report the ⁷
nomination to the Senate) or on the Senate floor (on whether to confirm). Another significant,
though less public, exercise of Senate “advice and consent” on judicial nominations, it can be
argued, occurs when individual Senators provide actual advice to the President on whom to
nominate to particular federal judgeships. By long-standing custom, dating back to the early
1800s, Senators of the President’s party, in their capacity as home state Senators, have regularly
provided Presidents such advice, recommending candidates for judgeships situated in their states
or linked by tradition to their states. For Senators who are not of the President’s party, a
consultative role, with the opportunity to convey to the President their views about candidates
under consideration for judgeships in their states, also has been a long-standing practice.
Technically, each Senator is free to recommend candidates for any federal judgeship to be filled
by presidential nomination. In reality, however, the ability of Senators to have their judicial
recommendations heeded by a President will, in most cases, depend on the judgeship in question
having a geographic link to the Senators’ own state. A Senator, for instance, rarely will be able to
exert influence on behalf of a judicial candidate for a geographically based court, such as a U.S.
district court or a U.S. court of appeals, if the court is not geographically all or in part within the
Senator’s state. Similarly, most Senators, on any particular occasion, might have little basis on
which to make judicial recommendations for a nationwide court of specialized subject matter
jurisdiction (such as the Tax Court or the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims), unless they are
members of a Senate committee having jurisdiction over the court, have expertise in the court’s ⁸
subject matter, or have some other special interest in the court.
By contrast, every U.S. Senator makes recommendations or in some way is consulted about
potential candidates for judgeships in (1) the U.S. district court or courts which geographically
fall within the Senator’s state, and (2) the U.S. court of appeals “circuit” of which the Senator’s
state is a geographic part—provided the circuit judgeship historically has been filled by a resident ⁹
of the Senator’s state. For these judgeships, long-standing Senate customs, as well as norms in

⁷^A^Se^na^te^v^o^te^{to c}^onf^ir^m^r^e^quir^e^s^a^sⁱ^m^p^le^m^a^jorⁱ^t^y^of^Se^na^tor^s^v^o^ting^,^a^qu^or^um^be^ing^pr^e^s^eⁿ^t.^Se^e^C^R^S^R^e^por^t
^R^L³¹⁹⁸^0,^Se^nate^C^onsⁱ^d^e^r^ati^on^{of Pr}^e^s^ideⁿ^tⁱ^al^N^o^mⁱⁿ^a^ti^ons^:^C^o^m^m^itte^e^and^Flo^o^r^Pr^oc^e^d^ur^e^,^b^y^E^lⁱ^zab^et^h^Ry^bⁱ^cki
^(un^d^e^r^he^a^dⁱⁿ^g^“^C^onside^r^a^tⁱ^{on a}ⁿ^{d Disp}^ositio^n”^{). T}^h^{is q}^uor^um^re^quire^m^e^{nt is de}^riv^e^{d f}^r^o^m^A^r^tic^l^e^{I, Se}^c^tio^{n 5}^,^Cla^u^se
^{1 of}^the^U^.^S^.^C^o^ns^tit^uti^on,^w^h^ic^h^s^t^a^t^e^s^{in pa}^r^t^t^h^a^t^“^a^Ma^jorⁱ^ty^of^ea^c^h^[^H^ous^e^]^s^h^a^{ll c}^ons^tit^ute^a^Q^u^or^um^{to d}^o
^B^u^sⁱ^ne^s^s^....^”^H^e^nc^e^,^the^qu^orum^f^o^{r c}^onduc^tⁱ^ng^b^u^sⁱ^ne^s^sⁱⁿ^a^Se^na^te^of¹⁰⁰^Me^m^b^e^r^s^is^{51 Se}^na^tors^.
⁸^W^r^itingⁱⁿ¹⁹^53,^a^sc^hola^r^note^d^tha^t^the^Pre^s^ideⁿ^t^ha^{d “}^w^ide^r^disc^re^tion”ⁱⁿ^t^h^e^se^le^c^tion^of^judg^e^s^t^o^suc^h
^sp^eci^alⁱ^zed^co^u^r^t^s^{as t}^h^{e T}^a^{x Co}^urt^an^d^t^h^{e Cu}^st^o^m^{s Co}^u^r^t^[^now^th^e^{U.S. Co}^urt^of^Inte^rna^tio^na^{l T}^r^a^d^e^]^{, a}^s^w^e^{ll a}^s^to
^f^e^de^r^a^{l c}^our^ts^{in t}^h^e^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^of^C^o^lum^b^ia^a^nd^the^T^e^r^r^itorⁱ^a^l^C^our^t^s^{, tha}ⁿ^he^dⁱ^{d i}ⁿ^s^e^le^c^ting^U^.^S.^dis^t^rⁱ^c^t^c^our^t
ⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^{ees i}ⁿ^each^o^f^t^h^{e st}^at^es,^“f^o^r^m^e^m^b^{ers o}^f^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^e^m^a^yⁿ^o^t^cl^ai^m^t^h^{e ri}^gh^t^t^o^dⁱ^ct^at^{e t}^h^{ese ap}^p^oⁱⁿ^t^m^en^t^s^t^h^o^u^g^h
^t^h^ey^o^f^t^eⁿ^p^r^ess^f^o^{r t}^h^{e ap}^poⁱⁿ^t^m^en^t^o^f^t^h^ei^{r cand}ⁱ^d^a^t^e^s.^{” Jo}^seph^P^.^Harri^s,^T^h^{e A}^d^vi^{ce a}ⁿ^d^Con^s^en^t^o^f^t^h^{e S}^e^na^t^e
⁽^B^e^r^k^e^ley^:^Uⁿ^iv^e^r^sⁱ^t^y^of^C^a^li^f^o^rⁿ^ia^P^r^e^s^s^,¹⁹^53;^r^e^prⁱⁿ^{t, N}^e^w^Y^o^r^k^{: G}^r^e^eⁿ^w^ood^P^r^e^s^s^,¹⁹⁶⁸⁾^,^p.³¹⁴⁽^p^a^g^e^c^ita^tion
^he^re^{, a}^nd^{in s}^ubse^q^ue^{nt f}^oot^no^te^{s, is to}^th^e^re^priⁿ^{t e}^d^itio^n).^(He^r^e^a^f^t^e^{r c}^ite^{d a}^s^Ha^rris,^A^d^vi^{ce a}ⁿ^d^C^oⁿ^s^en^t^.⁾
^Subs^e^q^ue^ntly^{, in}¹⁹^72,^aⁿ^o^t^he^r^s^c^hola^r^w^r^ote^:^“^I^{n a}^p^po^inti^ng^ju^dg^e^s^{to t}^h^e^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^C^o^ur^t^of^the^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^of^C^o^lum^b^ia^,
^t^h^{e Cou}^r^t^o^f^A^p^p^eal^s^f^o^{r t}^h^{e Di}^st^rⁱ^ct^o^f^Co^l^u^m^bⁱ^a^,^t^h^{e U}ⁿⁱ^t^e^d^S^t^at^{es Co}^u^r^t^o^f^Cu^st^o^m^{s an}^d^P^a^t^e^nt^A^p^p^eal^s,^t^h^{e Un}ⁱ^t^ed
^Sta^t^e^s^C^our^t^of^C^l^aⁱ^m^s^{, a}^{nd the}^Uⁿ^ite^d^Sta^t^e^s^C^u^s^t^om^s^C^our^t,^the^p^o^w^e^r^of^the^indivⁱ^d^u^a^l^s^e^na^tor^is^f^u^r^t^he^r^dimⁱ^nis^h^e^d
^{in f}^a^v^o^r^of^the^pr^e^s^ideⁿ^t’^s^m^e^{n. Si}^nc^e^the^s^e^le^c^{tion f}^o^r^t^hos^e^pos^ts^c^a^{n be}^m^a^de^f^r^o^m^aⁿ^y^s^t^a^t^e^{in the}^uni^on,^aⁿ^y^one
^s^e^na^tor^’^s^c^l^aⁱ^m^{to a}ⁿ^a^p^p^oⁱⁿ^tm^eⁿ^{t c}^a^nnot^be^v^e^r^y^s^t^r^ong^.”^H^a^r^o^ld^W^.^C^h^a^s^e^,^F^e^d^e^ra^l^Ju^dg^{es; T}^h^e^A^p^p^oⁱⁿ^tⁱⁿ^g^P^r^o^cess
^(Mⁱⁿⁿ^eapo^lⁱ^s^:^Uⁿⁱ^v^ersi^t^y^o^f^Mⁱⁿⁿ^e^so^t^a^P^r^ess,¹⁹⁷²⁾^,^p.⁴⁵^.^(Hereaf^t^e^{r ci}^t^e^d^{as Ch}^ase,^Fe^de^r^a^{l J}^u^dge^s^.)
⁹^Co^u^r^t^s^wⁱ^t^hⁱⁿ^t^h^{e U.}^S^.^c^o^u^r^t^s^o^f^ap^p^eal^{s syst}^e^m^{are d}ⁱ^vi^d^e^d^geo^g^r^a^p^hⁱ^cal^l^yⁱⁿ^t^o¹¹^regi^on^al^ci^rcuⁱ^t^s^,^wⁱ^t^h^each^ci^rcuⁱ^t
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

Senate-presidential relations, govern, to a great extent, the role of individual Senators in the
appointment process. The two most important of these customs arguably are “senatorial courtesy”
and the “blue slip” practice of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Dating back to 1789, senatorial courtesy, as defined by one authority, is the “Senate’s practice of
declining to confirm a presidential nominee for an office in the state of a senator of the ¹⁰
president’s party unless that senator approves.” “In our day,” another scholar has written,
“senatorial courtesy has come to mean that senators will give serious consideration to and be
favorably disposed to support an individual senator of the president’s party who opposes a
nominee to an office in his state.” This scholar noted, however, that, as the practice of senatorial
courtesy had evolved in the contemporary period, the Senate could not be expected to
automatically support a Senator opposing a nomination if “his reasons are not persuasive to other ¹¹
senators or if he is not a respected member of the Senate.... ”
The custom of senatorial courtesy provides the foundation for a special role in the nomination and
confirmation process for a Senator of the President’s party, whenever a presidential nomination is
for a federal office in the Senator’s state. The Senator’s role is essentially a negative one in those
relatively rare instances when the Senator opposes, and thereby seeks to block, a nominee’s
confirmation. In these situations, the Senator, by invoking senatorial courtesy, ordinarily can look
to the rest of the Senate’s Members to join the Senator in opposing the nomination. Much more
frequently, however, the Senator’s role is positive in nature when, periodically, he or she engages
in making recommendations to the President about whom to nominate to federal offices in the
Senator’s state. In these situations, the custom of senatorial courtesy, it can be argued, encourages
the President to be receptive to the Senator’s recommendations—rather than risk selecting
nominees opposed not only by the Senator, but by the Senate as a whole, united in support of its
colleague.
The precedent of senatorial courtesy, according to Joseph P. Harris, in his landmark study, The ¹²
Advice and Consent of the Senate, was set in 1789. Congress had been in session for only three
months of its first term when the Senate rejected its first presidential nominee—one Benjamin
Fishbourn, whom President George Washington had nominated to the post of naval officer of the
Port of Savannah. Though Fishbourn apparently had excellent qualifications for the position, the
Senate rejected the nomination as a courtesy to the two Senators from Georgia, who had a

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^co^u^r^tⁱⁿ^cl^udⁱⁿ^{g at}^l^east^t^h^{ree st}^at^es.^(T^h^e^{re al}^soⁱ^s^{a t}^w^el^f^t^h^,^geo^g^ra^p^hⁱ^cal^l^y^b^a^sed^f^e^d^e^ral^co^u^r^t^o^f^ap^p^eal^s,ⁱⁿ^t^h^e
^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^of^C^o^lum^b^ia^.)^Iⁿ^the^f^o^llo^wⁱ^ng^pa^g^e^s^,^nom^ina^tions^{to c}^o^ur^t^of^a^ppe^a^l^s^judg^e^s^hips^a^r^e^r^e^f^e^r^r^e^{d to a}^s^cⁱ^r^c^uit^c^our^t
^nom^ina^tions^,^aⁿ^d^the^c^o^ur^ts^a^r^e^r^e^f^e^r^r^e^d^{to a}^s^cⁱ^r^c^uit^c^our^ts^{. A}^m^a^{p s}^how^ing^the^g^e^og^r^a^phic^b^o^u^nda^rⁱ^e^s^of^the¹¹
^r^e^gⁱ^ona^{l c}ⁱ^r^c^{uit c}^o^ur^ts^{, a}^{nd a}^l^l^of^t^h^e^U^.^S.^dis^t^rⁱ^c^t^c^o^ur^ts^,^is^a^v^a^ila^ble^{on t}^h^e^f^e^de^r^a^{l judic}ⁱ^a^r^y^’^s^w^e^bs^ite^{, a}^t
^h^t^t^p^:^/^/^www^.^u^sco^u^r^t^s^.^g^o^v^/ⁱ^m^a^g^es/^Cⁱ^r^cuⁱ^t^M^ap^.^p^d^f^,^accessed^oⁿ^F^e^b^.¹⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^.
¹⁰^W^a^lte^{r Kra}^v^itz^,^C^ongr^e^s^sⁱ^onal^Q^uar^te^r^l^y^’^s^Am^e^r^ic^{an C}^oⁿ^g^r^e^s^sⁱ^on^{al D}ⁱ^c^tio^nar^y^,^3d^e^d^{. (}^W^a^s^hing^to^{n: C}^o^ng^r^e^s^sⁱ^ona^l
^Q^u^a^r^te^r^l^y^Iⁿ^c^{., 200}¹⁾^,^p.²³^1.
¹¹^Ch^ase,^Fe^de^r^a^{l J}^u^dge^s^{, p. 7.}
¹²^Harris,^A^d^vi^{ce an}^d^C^oⁿ^s^en^t^,^pp^.⁴⁰^-⁴¹^.^F^o^r^m^o^{re o}ⁿ^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^p^r^eced^en^t^s^an^d^sen^a^t^o^ri^al^cou^r^t^e^sy^,^{see a}^l^so^F^l^o^y^d^M^.
^Ri^d^dⁱ^{ck an}^{d A}^l^an^S^.^F^r^u^mⁱⁿ^,^Rid^d^ic^k^’^s^Se^na^te^Pr^oc^e^dur^e^{, 10}¹^st^Co^ng^{., 2}^nd^s^e^s^s^{., S. D}^o^c^.¹^01-^{28 (}^W^a^s^hing^to^{n: G}^P^O^,
¹⁹⁹²⁾^,^p^p^{. 9}⁵¹^-⁹^52.

candidate of their own. The next day, Washington withdrew the Fishbourn nomination and
nominated the candidate desired by the two Georgia Senators.
In the Fishbourn episode, the courtesy that the Senate’s members as a whole extended to their two
colleagues from Georgia—by rejecting the nomination that the two Senators opposed—was an
important precedent. As Harris explained:
^T^h^{e Fish}^b^o^u^rⁿ^{case i}ⁿ^itia^ted^th^{e cu}^s^t^o^m^w^h^ich^r^e^q^u^ir^e^s^th^e^P^r^esid^en^{t to}^coⁿ^s^u^lt^wⁱ^t^h^th^e
^s^eⁿ^a^tors^f^r^o^m^t^h^{e s}^t^{ate i}ⁿ^w^hⁱ^c^h^{a v}^acan^c^y^occ^u^rs^{, an}^{d to n}^o^mⁱⁿ^a^{te a pers}^on^{acceptable t}^o
^th^e^m^{; i}^f^h^e^f^a^il^{s to}^d^o^so^{, th}^{e Sen}^a^{te as a co}^u^r^tes^y^to^th^ese^sen^a^to^r^s^wⁱ^l^l^r^e^j^{ect an}^y^o^t^h^e^r
^no^mⁱ^ne^e^r^e^ga^r^d^l^e^{ss o}^f^hi^{s q}^u^a^lⁱ^fⁱ^c^a^tⁱ^o^n.^T^h^e^c^u^st^o^mⁱ^s^us^ua^l^l^yⁱⁿ^vo^ke^d^,^ho^w^e^ve^r^,^oⁿ^l^y^b^y
^s^eⁿ^a^tors^of^t^h^{e s}^a^m^e^part^y^a^s^th^{e P}^r^es^iden^{t. It did n}^o^{t becom}^e^fⁱ^r^m^l^y^es^tabli^s^h^e^{d i}ⁿ
^W^a^shⁱⁿ^g^t^oⁿ^’^s^ad^mⁱⁿⁱ^str^a^tioⁿ^,^f^o^r^h^e^coⁿ^tⁱⁿ^u^e^d^to^h^o^ld^to^th^{e d}^o^c^trⁱⁿ^{e th}^{at th}^{e p}^o^w^e^r^o^f
ⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tioⁿ^b^e^loⁿ^g^e^d^ex^cl^u^sⁱ^v^el^y^to^th^{e P}^r^esid^en^{t an}^d^coⁿ^tin^u^e^d^to^c^oⁿ^s^u^l^t^wⁱ^d^e^lyⁱⁿ^m^a^kⁱⁿ^g
^hⁱ^s^s^e^lectioⁿ^s^{. U}ⁿ^{der later P}^r^es^iden^ts^wⁱ^t^h^le^s^s^pres^tⁱ^g^e^,^le^s^s^f^o^{rce of}^c^h^{aracter an}^d^les^s
^d^e^ter^mⁱⁿ^at^ioⁿ^,^t^h^{e r}^u^{le b}^eca^m^e^fⁱ^r^m^l^y^estab^lⁱ^s^h^e^d^w^ith^r^e^sp^{ect to}^seⁿ^a^to^r^s^o^f^t^h^{e sa}^m^e¹³
^p^o^{litical p}^a^r^t^y^{as t}^h^{e P}^r^esid^en^t^.
Harris, writing in 1953, described what was then the “well-established custom, which has
prevailed since about 1840,” wherein U.S. district judges “are normally selected by senators from
the state in which the district is situated, provided they belong to the same party as the President.”
(By contrast, the President was said to have “a much freer hand in the selection of judges to the ¹⁴
circuit courts of appeal, whose districts cover several states.... ”) Another scholar, less than a
decade earlier, in 1944, had described as near-absolute the power of home state Senators of the
President’s party to select district court nominees. The Senate, he maintained, had “expropriated
the President’s power of nomination so far as concerns appointments of interest to senators of the
party in power; and the President has virtually surrendered his power directly to local party ¹⁵
politics as to appointments in states where the senators are of the opposition.”
According to two other scholars, Senators, from the very beginning, “recognized that judgeships
could be used effectively to reward loyal supporters back home.” Senators also realized:
that it would be damaging to their prestige if the President appointed to a judgeship within their
own state someone of whom they disapproved. As a result, senators joined together to protect
their individual interests in judicial appointments. The custom of “senatorial courtesy” grew out ¹⁶
of these considerations.
In the latter half of the 20^th century, it continued to be common for Senators to regard their role in
the appointment of U.S. district judges as more in the nature of selection than of recommendation.
In 1977, former Senator Joseph W. Tydings (D-MD) wrote that selection of a U.S. district judge
“is a power jealously guarded by many senators. It is an extremely important source of political
patronage, and many senators consider judicial selection to be one of the duties they were elected

¹³^I^b^id^{., p. 41}
¹⁴^I^bⁱ^d^,^p.³¹^4.
¹⁵^E^v^an^Ha^yⁿ^es,^The^Se^le^c^tioⁿ^an^d^Te^nur^e^of^J^u^d^g^e^s⁽^N^e^w^a^r^k^,^N^J^{: N}^a^tiona^{l C}^onf^e^r^eⁿ^c^e^of^J^udicⁱ^a^l^C^o^unc^ils^,¹⁹⁴⁴⁾^{, p}^.
^23.
¹⁶^L^a^r^r^y^C^.^B^e^r^k^s^{on a}ⁿ^d^Sus^aⁿ^B^.^C^a^r^bon,^T^h^e^Uⁿ^ite^d^St^ate^s^Cⁱ^r^c^uit^J^udge^N^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tin^{g C}^o^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^on:^I^t^s^M^e^m^b^e^r^s^,
^Pr^oc^e^dur^e^s^an^{d C}^aⁿ^d^id^ate^s^(Chⁱ^c^a^go^:^Ameri^can^Ju^dⁱ^cat^u^r^{e S}^o^ci^et^y^,¹⁹⁸⁰^),^p^.¹²^.

to perform.”¹⁷ In 1989, similar sentiments were expressed by Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) amid
a controversy involving the reluctance of President George H.W. Bush to nominate to a Vermont
district judgeship a candidate recommended by Senator James M. Jeffords (R-VT). “As a matter
of custom and tradition in the Senate,” Senator Cochran declared, “the senators of the president’s
party’s recommendations for district court judgeships have been tantamount to selection of that
nominee,” adding that selecting judicial nominees was “one of the few patronage positions that ¹⁸
senators have” outside their staffs. Echoing Senator Cochran’s views, the Senate Republican
Conference, it was reported, “went to Jeffords’ defense with a resolution asking conference
chairman John H. Chafee (R-R.I.) to advise President Bush of the senators’ support for Jeffords’ ¹⁹
choice.” Ultimately, the candidate recommended by Senator Jeffords was nominated by ²⁰
President Bush and confirmed by the Senate by a voice vote.
The view of many Senators, in other words, has been that the President should defer to Senators
of the President’s party in the selection of home state judicial appointees, rather than vice versa.
This view is reinforced by the custom of senatorial courtesy, in which the Senate as a collegial
body customarily supports Senators of the President’s party in disputes with the President over ²¹
judicial appointments in their state. The custom serves as an inducement to the President to try
to reach accommodation with home state Senators, rather than risk Senate rejection of a nominee
whom they oppose. As a result, Presidents rarely go forward with a nomination for a district court
judgeship if a home state Senator of the President’s party has indicated beforehand a readiness to ²²
oppose the nominee in the Senate.

¹⁷^J^o^s^e^{ph W}^.^T^y^ding^s^,^“^M^e^r^{it Se}^le^c^tion^f^o^r^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^J^udg^e^s^,”^J^udic^a^tu^r^e^,^v^o^{l. 6}¹^{, Se}^pt.¹⁹⁷⁷^{, p}^.¹¹³^.^(H^e^r^e^a^f^t^e^r^c^ite^{d a}^s
^T^y^dⁱⁿ^g^s,^“M^eri^t^S^e^l^ectⁱ^oⁿ^.^{”) By}^coⁿ^t^rast^,^h^e^no^t^e^d^(al^s^o^at^p.¹¹³⁾^,^“n^o^siⁿ^g^l^e^sen^a^t^o^r^au^t^o^m^a^tⁱ^cal^l^y^c^oⁿ^t^r^o^l^s^{” each}
^ci^rcuⁱ^t^co^u^r^t^o^f^ap^p^eal^{s j}^u^d^g^eshⁱ^p^,^b^ecau^{se each}^ap^p^e^l^l^a^t^e^co^u^r^t^“gen^eral^l^y^co^v^e^{rs sev}^e^ral^st^at^es.^”
¹⁸^R^u^th^Ma^r^c^us^{, “}^G^O^P^Se^na^tor^s^Fe^{ud w}^{ith A}^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion^ov^e^r^N^a^mⁱ^ng^J^udg^e^s^,”^The^W^a^s^hⁱⁿ^gtoⁿ^P^o^s^t^{, N}^o^v^.²³^,¹⁹⁸⁹^,
^p^.^A⁶^.^(Hereaf^t^e^{r ci}^t^e^d^{as M}^a^rcu^s^,^“G^OP^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^{rs F}^e^u^d^.^”)
¹⁹^Ibid^.
²⁰^Se^e^W^a^lte^{r R. Me}^a^r^{s, “}^A^Ba^ttle^of^W^{ills ov}^e^r^Pⁱ^c^k^ing^Fe^de^ra^{l Judg}^e^s^,”^A^sso^ci^a^t^ed^P^r^ess^,^A^u^g.¹⁶^,¹⁹⁹⁰^,^accessed
^Fe^{b. 5}^,²⁰⁰⁸^{, a}^t^htt^p^://w^ww^.le^xⁱ^s^ne^xⁱ^s.c^o^m^.
²¹^Iⁿ^s^o^m^e^s^c^hola^r^ly^w^o^r^k^s^,^s^e^na^torⁱ^a^l^c^our^te^s^y^a^l^s^o^ha^s^c^o^m^e^{to be}^s^y^non^y^m^ous^w^{ith pr}^e^s^ideⁿ^tia^l^de^f^e^r^e^nc^e^{to Se}^na^t^o^r^s
^ov^e^r^f^e^de^r^a^{l a}^ppointm^e^nts^{in t}^h^eⁱ^r^s^t^a^t^e^s^{. Se}^e^,^f^o^r^e^x^am^ple^,^Mic^h^a^e^l^J^.^G^e^r^h^a^r^dt,^The^Fe^de^{ral A}^p^p^oⁱⁿ^t^m^eⁿ^{ts Proc}^e^{ss; A}
^C^oⁿ^s^tⁱ^t^u^t^io^na^l^an^{d Hi}^st^o^rⁱ^c^al^A^nal^ysi^s^(Durha^m^,^{NC: Duk}^e^Univ^e^r^s^ity^P^r^e^{ss, 20}^00),^p.¹^43:^“^T^ra^ditio^na^lly^{, the}^te^rm
^s^e^natorⁱ^a^{l c}^o^ur^te^s^y^ha^s^r^e^f^e^r^r^e^{d to the}^de^f^e^r^e^nc^e^the^pr^e^s^ideⁿ^t^ow^es^{to t}^h^e^r^e^c^o^m^m^e^nda^tions^of^s^e^na^tor^s^f^r^om^his^owⁿ
^polit^ic^a^l^pa^r^t^y^{on t}^h^e^pa^r^tic^ula^r^pe^ople^w^hom^he^s^h^o^u^ldⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^te^{to f}^e^de^r^a^{l of}^fⁱ^ce^s^{in the}^s^e^na^tor^s^’^r^e^s^p^e^c^tiv^e^s^t^a^t^e^s^.”
^(Em^pha^{sis in orig}^ina^l^.)
²²^Occasi^oⁿ^a^l^l^y^,^h^o^w^e^v^er,^P^r^esi^d^en^t^s^h^a^{ve sel}^ect^ed^dⁱ^st^ri^ct^co^u^r^tⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^{ees o}^v^{er t}^h^{e pu}^b^lⁱ^c^o^p^p^o^sⁱ^tⁱ^oⁿ^o^f^h^o^m^{e st}^at^e
^Se^na^tor^s^of^the^Pr^e^s^ideⁿ^t’^s^pa^r^t^y^,^us^ua^lly⁽^but^{not a}^l^w^a^y^s⁾^w^{ith un}^h^a^ppy^re^{sults f}^o^{r the}^P^r^esi^d^en^t^s^and^t^h^eⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^ees.^In
¹⁹³^9,^ov^e^r^the^obje^c^tio^ns^of^Vir^g^inia^’^s^tw^{o D}^e^m^o^c^r^a^tic^Se^na^tor^s^,^Pr^e^s^ideⁿ^{t Fr}^aⁿ^k^lⁱⁿ^D^.^R^oos^e^v^e^{lt no}^mⁱ^na^te^{d Floy}^{d H}^.
^R^obe^r^t^s^t^o^a^ju^dg^e^s^hip^on^the^U^.^S^.^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^C^o^ur^{t f}^o^r^t^h^e^W^e^s^t^e^r^{n D}ⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^of^Vir^gⁱⁿ^ia^{. T}^h^e^nom^ina^tio^{n ul}^tim^a^t^e^l^y^w^a^s
^rej^ect^ed^b^y^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^e⁷²^-⁹^.^S^ee^Harri^s,^A^d^vi^{ce a}ⁿ^d^Con^s^en^t^,^p^p^.²^31-²³^{4. B}^y^c^ontr^a^s^t^{, in}¹⁹⁴⁷^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t H}^a^r^r^y^S
^T^r^u^m^an^su^cceed^edⁱⁿ^h^a^viⁿ^g^t^h^eⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^o^{n o}^f^Jo^{e B.}^Doo^l^ey^t^o^t^h^{e U.}^S^.^Di^st^ri^ct^C^o^u^r^t^f^o^{r N}^o^rt^h^e^rⁿ^T^e^x^a^{s co}ⁿ^fⁱ^r^m^e^d^,
^ov^e^r^the^o^b^je^c^tion^of^the^j^uni^or^D^e^m^o^c^r^a^tic^Se^na^tor^of^T^e^x^a^s^,^W^.^Le^e^O^’^D^a^nie^l^{. (}^T^he^Se^na^tor^ha^{d be}^eⁿⁱⁿ^dis^a^g^r^e^e^m^e^nt
^w^{ith T}^e^x^a^s^’^s^se^nior^Se^na^t^o^r^,^T^o^m^C^oⁿⁿ^a^lly^{, a}^l^s^o^a^D^e^m^o^c^r^a^t^{, w}^{ho ha}^{d r}^e^c^o^m^m^e^nde^{d the}ⁿ^o^mⁱ^ne^e^.⁾^T^h^e^nom^ina^tion
^w^a^{s a}^pprov^e^d^by^the^Se^na^te^Ju^dicⁱ^a^r^y^Com^m^itte^e^by^a^{8-4 v}^o^te^aⁿ^d^c^onf^irm^e^{d b}^y^the^Se^na^te^by^a^v^o^te^of^48-3⁶^.
^She^l^d^{on G}^o^ldm^a^n,^Pic^kⁱⁿ^g^Fe^de^r^a^{l J}^u^dge^s^:^L^o^w^e^r^C^our^t^Se^le^c^tioⁿ^fr^om^Ro^os^e^v^e^{lt Thr}^o^u^{gh Re}^ag^an⁽^N^ew^H^a^ve^{n, C}^T^:
^Yal^e^Unⁱ^v^ersi^t^y^P^r^ess,¹⁹⁹⁷⁾^,^p.⁸⁰^.^(Hereaf^t^e^{r ci}^t^e^d^as^G^o^l^d^m^aⁿ^,^Pic^kⁱ^{ng Fe}^de^r^a^{l J}^u^dge^s^.)^S^ubs^e^q^ue^ntly^{, how}^e^v^e^r^,
^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t T}^r^um^aⁿ^wa^{s unsuc}^c^e^{ssful w}^h^eⁿ^he^traⁿ^sm^itte^{d f}^{our ot}^he^r^distric^t^c^o^urt^nom^ina^tions^to^the^S^e^na^te^{, a}^{ll ov}^e^r^the
^o^b^j^ectⁱ^oⁿ^s^o^f^ho^m^e^st^at^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^{rs o}^f^hⁱ^{s p}^a^rt^y^.^T^h^{e n}^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^oⁿ^sⁱⁿ^q^u^e^stⁱ^oⁿ^—^on^{e each}^t^o^t^h^{e j}^u^dⁱ^ci^a^l^dⁱ^st^ri^ct^s^o^f
^Northe^{rn G}^e^orgⁱ^a^a^{nd S}^o^u^t^he^rn^I^o^w^a^{in 19}^50,^aⁿ^d^tw^{o to t}^h^e^j^udicⁱ^a^l^distric^t^of^Northe^{rn I}^llin^{ois i}ⁿ¹⁹⁵^1—w^e^re
^rej^ect^ed^b^y^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^eⁱⁿ^voⁱ^{ce vot}^es.^S^{ee agai}ⁿ^Harri^s,^Advⁱ^c^e^an^d^C^ons^eⁿ^t^,^p.²^{21 (}^f^or^t^h^e^G^e^or^gⁱ^a^a^{nd I}^o^w^a^dis^t^rⁱ^c^t
^nom^ina^tions⁾^a^nd^pp^{. 3}^21-³²^{3 (}^f^o^r^the^I^lli^no^is^dis^t^rⁱ^c^tⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^tions⁾^.
^M^o^{re recen}^tly^{, in}¹⁹⁷⁶^,^P^r^esi^d^en^t^G^e^r^a^ld^{R. Fo}^r^d^{, a Re}^p^u^b^lican^,ⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^a^ted^W^illia^m^{B. P}^o^f^f^to^th^{e U.}^{S. District C}^o^u^r^t
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

The role of home state Senators of the President’s party, however, is no longer one of
unquestioned power to select district court nominees, as it has been generally portrayed in the
past. A judicial appointments scholar observed in 1972 that “even granting that senators of the
party in power may have ‘owned’ district judgeships at an earlier time in our history, they have ²³
not during the incumbency of the presidents since Truman.” In recent decades, Senators, when
recommending judicial candidates, increasingly have found it necessary to accommodate new
demands or calls from the President, which have made their selection power less absolute. For
instance, recent Presidents have insisted that candidates whom Senators recommend for district
judges, besides having necessary professional qualifications, meet other criteria of particular ²⁴
importance to the President or that the Senators submit a number of candidates for a vacant ²⁵
judgeship, rather than only the name of the one candidate they most favor. Further, one recent

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^f^o^{r t}^h^{e W}^e^st^ern^Di^st^ri^ct^o^f^Vⁱ^rgiⁿⁱ^a^o^v^{er t}^h^{e ob}^j^ectⁱ^oⁿ^o^f^{a ho}^m^e^st^at^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^{r o}^f^t^h^e^P^r^esi^d^en^t^’^s^p^a^rt^y^.^T^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^r
^inv^o^k^e^{d s}^e^na^torⁱ^a^l^c^o^ur^te^s^y^{, a}^{nd t}^h^e^Se^na^te^J^u^dicⁱ^a^r^y^C^o^m^m^itte^e^table^d^t^h^eⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^tion.^A^m^{onth la}^t^e^r^,^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t^For^d
^wⁱ^t^h^d^r^ew^t^h^{e n}^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^oⁿ^(af^t^{er recei}^viⁿ^g^{a l}^e^t^t^e^{r f}^r^o^m^t^h^{e n}^o^mⁱⁿ^ee,^w^h^o^asked^t^h^at^hⁱ^sⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^oⁿ^{be w}ⁱ^t^h^d^r^awⁿ
^b^ecau^{se o}^f^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^{r’s i}ⁿ^vo^catⁱ^oⁿ^o^f^sen^a^t^o^ri^al^co^u^r^t^e^sy^).^G^o^l^d^man^,^Pⁱ^cki^ng^F^e^d^e^ra^l^Ju^dg^es^,^p.²¹⁰^.
^In¹⁹⁸⁰^,^P^r^esi^d^en^t^Ji^m^m^{y Cart}^er,^{a De}^m^o^crat^,ⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^at^ed^{James E}^.^S^h^ef^fⁱ^el^d^t^o^t^h^{e U.}^S^.^Di^st^ri^ct^Court^f^o^{r t}^h^{e E}^a^st^ern
^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^of^Vir^g^inia^,^ov^e^r^the^obje^c^tion^of^Se^na^tor^H^a^r^r^y^{F. B}^y^r^d^J^r^{. of}^Vir^g^inia^.^A^lthoug^h^Se^na^tor^B^y^r^d^{, f}^o^r^m^e^r^l^y^a
^De^m^o^crat^,^h^a^d^b^eco^m^e^an^In^d^e^p^eⁿ^d^eⁿ^t^,^h^e^rem^aⁱⁿ^ed^{a m}^e^m^b^{er o}^f^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^e^{’s Dem}^o^cratⁱ^c^c^a^u^c^u^s^,^an^d^w^a^{s t}^r^eat^ed^{as a}
^De^m^o^crat^b^y^P^r^esi^d^en^t^Cart^{er f}^o^r^j^u^dⁱ^ci^al^sel^ectⁱ^oⁿ^pu^rpo^s^es.^(W^h^eⁿ^P^r^esi^d^ent^Cart^er,^earlⁱ^e^{r i}ⁿ^hⁱ^s^presi^d^en^cy^,^w^r^o^t^{e a}
^le^tte^r^{to D}^e^m^o^c^r^a^tic^Se^na^tor^s^{, r}^e^q^u^e^s^ting^tha^t^the^y^a^ppoint^m^e^r^{it c}^o^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^ons^{to s}^e^le^c^t^c^a^ndi^da^te^s^f^o^r^v^acan^t^dⁱ^st^ri^ct
^j^u^d^g^eshⁱ^p^sⁱⁿ^t^h^ei^{r st}^at^es,^h^eⁱⁿ^cl^ud^ed^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^{r By}^rd^oⁿ^hⁱ^{s l}ⁱ^st^.⁾^A^l^t^h^o^u^{gh t}^h^e^S^h^ef^fⁱ^el^dⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^oⁿ^r^ecei^v^e^d^{a h}^eariⁿ^g
^by^the^Se^na^te^Judicⁱ^a^r^y^Com^m^itte^e^,^c^ontr^o^v^e^rs^y^a^r^ose^ov^e^r^the^nom^ine^e^’^{s pe}^rsona^{l f}ⁱ^na^nc^e^s^{, a}^s^w^e^{ll a}^s^ov^e^r^the^Ca^rte^r
^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion’^s^e^f^f^o^r^t^s^{to pe}^r^s^ua^de^Se^na^tor^B^y^r^d^{to a}^d^d^m^o^r^e^na^m^e^s^{to the}^lⁱ^s^t^of^c^a^ndi^da^te^s^he^ha^d^r^e^c^o^m^m^e^nde^{d f}^o^r
^vacan^t^Vⁱ^rgiⁿⁱ^a^j^u^d^g^eshⁱ^p^s^.^T^h^{e S}^h^effⁱ^el^dⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^o^{n recei}^vedⁿ^o^f^u^rt^h^e^{r act}ⁱ^oⁿⁱⁿ^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^e^and^w^a^{s ret}^u^rn^ed^t^o^t^h^e^th
^P^r^esi^d^eⁿ^tⁱⁿ^Decem^b^e^r¹⁹⁸⁰^up^on^the^fⁱ^na^{l a}^d^j^our^nm^eⁿ^{t of}^the⁹⁶^C^ong^r^e^s^s^.^Se^e^“^S^eⁿ^{. B}^y^r^d^Ple^d^g^e^s^T^o^O^ppos^e
^C^a^r^t^e^r^{on J}^u^dg^e^C^hoic^e^,^”^Th^{e Wash}ⁱⁿ^gt^on^Po^st^{, A}^p^r^{il 1}⁷^,¹⁹⁸⁰^{, p}^.^C²^{; K}^a^r^l^yⁿ^B^a^r^k^e^r^{, “T}^ax^I^nquir^y^Sna^r^ls^H^e^a^r^ing^s^on
^Cart^{er No}^mⁱⁿ^{ee t}^o^Ben^c^h^,^”^T^h^{e Wa}^shⁱⁿ^gt^on^Po^st^{, A}^u^g^.²⁷^{, 1}⁹⁸⁰^,^{p. A}¹^{; D}^o^na^ld^{P. B}^a^k^e^r^a^{nd G}^l^e^{nn Fr}^aⁿ^k^e^{l, “}^A
^L^itaⁿ^y^of^Mis^t^a^k^es^{; W}^h^ite^H^ous^e^D^e^f^e^a^t^e^d^{, Em}^ba^r^r^a^s^s^e^{d in Fig}^h^{t T}^o^A^ppoi^{nt B}^l^a^c^k^Va^{. J}^udg^e^;^Fig^h^t^f^o^r^B^l^a^c^k^J^udg^e
^Em^b^a^rras^s^{es Carter,”}^T^h^{e Wa}^sh^ing^t^on^P^o^st^{, Se}^pt.^21,¹⁹⁸⁰^,^{p. A}¹^;^G^o^ldm^a^n,^Pⁱ^ckiⁿ^g^F^e^d^e^ra^l^J^u^dg^es^{, pp}^{. 2}^62-²⁶^4.
²³^Ch^ase,^Fe^de^r^a^{l J}^u^dge^s^,^p^.¹²^.^“It^d^o^e^{s no}^tⁿ^ecessari^l^y^f^o^l^l^o^w^,^{” Ch}^{ase co}ⁿ^tⁱⁿ^u^e^d^,^“t^h^a^t^b^ecau^{se i}ⁿ^dⁱ^vi^d^u^a^l^sen^a^t^o^rs
^m^a^y^w^e^{ll be}^{in a}^p^o^sitio^{n t}^o^e^x^e^r^cⁱ^se^a^v^e^{to pow}^e^r^{in the}^a^p^p^o^intm^eⁿ^{t of}^ju^dg^e^s^the^y^m^u^{st do the}^a^p^p^o^inti^ng^{. Cl}^ose
^e^x^am^ina^{tion of}^the^a^p^poi^ntm^e^{nt p}^r^oc^e^s^s^s^u^g^g^e^s^t^s^othe^r^w^ise^.^”^I^b^id.,^{p. 1}³^.
²⁴^F^o^{r i}ⁿ^st^an^ce,ⁱⁿ^an^execu^tⁱ^v^{e o}^r^{der si}^gn^ed^oⁿ^No^v.^8,¹⁹⁷⁸^,^P^r^esi^d^en^t^Ji^mmy^C^a^rt^{er sp}^eci^fⁱ^ed^(t^h^u^s^si^gn^alⁱⁿ^{g t}^o^h^o^m^e
^st^at^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^{rs) t}^h^at^,^am^oⁿ^g^t^h^{e st}^an^d^a^rd^{s h}^e^w^o^u^l^d^u^s^{e t}^o^d^e^t^e^rmⁱⁿ^{e a p}^e^rsoⁿ^’^{s f}ⁱ^tⁿ^{ess t}^o^{serve as a di}^st^ri^ct^j^u^d^g^{e w}^a^s
^w^h^et^h^e^{r t}^h^{e p}^e^rsoⁿ^po^ssessed^{a “d}^em^oⁿ^s^t^r^at^ed^co^mmⁱ^t^men^t^t^o^equal^j^u^stⁱ^ce.^{” A}^l^so^,^uⁿ^d^e^{r t}^h^e^o^r^d^e^r,^t^h^{e A}^t^t^o^rn^ey
^G^eⁿ^e^r^a^l^,^b^e^f^o^{re reco}^mm^en^dⁱⁿ^g^{a d}ⁱ^st^ri^ct^cou^r^t^can^di^d^a^t^e^t^o^t^h^e^P^r^esi^d^en^t^,^w^o^u^l^d^con^sⁱ^d^{er w}^h^et^h^e^{r an}^“a^ffⁱ^r^m^a^tⁱ^v^e
^actⁱ^oⁿ^”^h^a^{d “b}^een^m^a^d^e^,ⁱⁿ^t^h^{e case o}^f^each^va^can^c^y^,^t^oⁱ^d^en^tⁱ^f^y^caⁿ^dⁱ^d^a^t^e^s,ⁱⁿ^cl^u^dⁱⁿ^g^w^o^m^eⁿ^an^d^m^e^m^b^{ers o}^f^mⁱⁿ^o^rⁱ^t^y
^g^r^oups^.”^U^.^S^.^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t (}^C^a^r^te^r⁾^,^“^S^ta^nda^r^d^s^aⁿ^{d G}^u^ide^lⁱⁿ^e^s^f^o^r^the^Me^r^{it Se}^le^c^tio^{n of}^Uⁿ^ite^{d Sta}^t^e^s^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^J^udg^e^s^,”
^Ex^e^c^u^tiv^e^O^r^de^r¹²⁰^97,^Fe^de^ral^Re^giste^r^{, v}^o^l.^43,^N^o^v^.^13,¹⁹⁷⁸^,^{p. 5}²⁴⁵⁵^.⁽^E^x^e^c^u^tiv^e^or^de^r^r^e^v^o^k^e^{d by}^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t
^Rona^ld^Re^a^g^aⁿ^{on Fe}^b.^25,¹⁹⁸⁶^.^Se^e^“^E^x^e^c^u^tiv^e^Orde^rs^Dispositio^{n T}^a^ble^s^,”^a^t^http^://w^ww^.^a^rc^hiv^e^s^.^g^o^v^/^f^e^de^ra^l-
^regi^st^er/^c^o^dⁱ^fⁱ^catⁱ^oⁿ^/^execu^tⁱ^v^e-o^r^d^e^rs-1⁶^.^h^t^m^l^,^access^e^d^F^e^b^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^.⁾^Du^riⁿ^g^t^h^{e p}^r^esi^d^en^cy^o^f^Roⁿ^a^l^d^Reagan^,^t^h^e
^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion’^s^e^v^a^l^ua^tio^{n of}^ju^dicⁱ^a^l^c^a^ndi^da^te^s^w^a^s^,^a^s^a^m^a^tte^r^of^polic^y^,^c^onc^e^r^ne^{d n}^o^t^only^wⁱ^t^hⁱⁿ^te^lle^c^t^ua^l
^a^b^ility^{, le}^g^a^{l e}^x^pe^rieⁿ^c^e^,^a^{nd judi}^cⁱ^a^l^te^m^p^e^r^a^m^eⁿ^{t, but a}^l^s^o^“^w^{ith a}ⁿⁱⁿ^divⁱ^dua^l’s^ov^e^r^a^{ll ju}^dicⁱ^a^l^p^h^iloso^phy^a^nd
^c^onc^e^p^t^of^the^ju^dicⁱ^a^l^role^.”^She^l^don^G^o^ldm^a^{n, “}^R^e^a^g^aⁿ^’s^Se^c^ond^T^e^r^m^J^udicⁱ^a^l^A^ppointm^e^nts^:^T^h^e^Ba^ttle^a^t
^Midw^ay^,”^J^udic^a^tur^e^{, v}^o^l.⁷⁰^{, A}^p^r^il-^Ma^y^1987,^p.³^26.^D^u^rⁱ^ng^the^pr^e^s^ideⁿ^c^y^of^G^e^or^ge^W^.^B^u^s^h^{, a}^D^e^pa^r^t^m^e^{nt of}
^J^u^s^tic^e^of^fⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^inv^o^lv^e^dⁱⁿ^the^pr^oc^e^s^s^of^e^v^a^l^ua^ting^c^a^ndida^te^s^f^o^r^low^e^r^c^our^{t j}^udg^e^s^hips^ha^s^s^pok^eⁿ^of^the
^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t’^s^“^m^a^nda^te^{to us}^”^—^na^m^e^l^y^{, “}^t^ha^{t the}^m^e^{n a}^{nd w}^o^m^e^{n w}^{ho a}^r^e^nom^ina^t^e^d^by^him^{to be}^{on t}^h^e^be^nc^h^ha^v^e^his
^vⁱ^{son of}^the^pro^p^e^r^role^of^the^ju^dⁱ^cⁱ^a^r^y^.^T^h^a^t^{is, a}^judicⁱ^a^r^y^tha^t^w^{ill f}^o^llow^the^la^w^,^{not m}^a^k^e^the^la^w^,^a^judicⁱ^a^r^y^tha^t
^w^{ill inte}^rpre^{t the}^c^onstit^uti^on,ⁿ^o^t^le^gⁱ^sla^t^e^f^r^o^m^the^be^nc^h.”^S^h^e^l^do^{n G}^o^ldm^a^{n e}^t^a^l^{., “}^W^{. Bush Re}^m^a^kⁱ^ng^the
^Ju^dⁱ^ci^ary^:^Lⁱ^{ke F}^a^t^h^{er L}ⁱ^k^e^S^oⁿ^?”,^J^udic^a^tur^e^{, v}^o^l^.⁸⁶^,^Ma^y^-^J^une²⁰⁰³^{, p}^.²⁸⁴^.⁽^H^e^r^e^a^f^te^r^c^ite^{d a}^s^G^o^ldm^a^{n e}^t^a^l^{., “}^W^.
^Bu^sh^Rem^a^kiⁿ^g^t^h^{e Ju}^dⁱ^ci^ary^.^”)
²⁵^A¹⁹⁹⁶^s^t^u^d^y^note^d^t^h^a^t^“^dur^ing^the^a^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion^of^D^e^m^o^c^r^a^tic^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t J}ⁱ^m^m^y^C^a^r^t^e^r^{, hom}^e^s^t^ate^s^e^na^tor^s^w^e^r^e
^asked^f^o^{r m}^o^{re t}^h^an^on^{e n}^a^m^e^f^o^{r each}^dⁱ^st^ri^ct^cou^r^t^vacan^cyⁱⁿ^t^h^ei^{r st}^at^e.^T^h^at^p^r^actⁱ^{ce an}^d^o^t^h^e^r^p^r^esi^d^en^tⁱ^a^l^at^t^e^m^p^t^s
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

President (Jimmy Carter), through forceful advocacy, persuaded nearly all of the home state
Senators of his party to establish nominating commissions for the selection of district court
judges. In so doing, the Senators relinquished a substantial part of their traditional role in ²⁶
recruiting, evaluating, and recommending district court candidates. Subsequent Presidents,
however, have not insisted, as President Carter did, that Senators use nominating commissions to ²⁷
select district court candidates, and most Senators no longer do.
Senatorial courtesy, as has been shown, historically has contemplated a role for Senators of the
President’s party in providing advice to the President on nominees—but not necessarily a role for
opposition party Senators. Nevertheless, even when neither of a state’s Senators is of the
President’s party, a consultative role is contemplated, if not mandated, for them in the
appointment process by means of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s “blue slip” policy. Under the
committee’s blue slip policy, as it has evolved in recent decades, the Judiciary Committee has
come to expect that, as a courtesy, a state’s Senators, no matter what their party affiliation, will be
consulted by the Administration prior to the President nominating persons to U.S. district
judgeships in the state as well as to U.S. circuit court judgeships historically associated with the
state.
The blue slip policy of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as set by its chair, dates back at least to ²⁸
1917. Under this policy, the committee chair seeks the assessment of Senators regarding district
court, circuit court, U.S. attorney, and U.S. marshal nominations in their state. In practice, the
chair sends a blue-colored form to home state Senators regarding these nominations. If a home
state Senator has no objection to a nominee, the blue slip is returned to the chair with a positive
response; however, if a Senator has some objection to the nominee and wants to stop or slow
committee action, he or she can decide not to return the blue slip or to return it with a negative

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^{to c}^u^r^b^s^e^na^torⁱ^a^l^pa^tr^oⁿ^a^g^e^ov^e^r^low^e^r^f^e^de^r^a^{l c}^our^{t ju}^dg^e^s^hips^c^o^ntin^ue^d^un^de^r^R^e^pu^blic^aⁿ^Pr^e^s^ideⁿ^ts^R^o^na^{ld R}^e^a^g^aⁿ
^a^{nd G}^e^org^e^[^H^{. W}^.^{] Bush}^,”^a^lth^o^u^g^h^“^w^{ith lim}^ite^{d suc}^c^e^ss.^”^Mille^{r Ce}^nte^r^Com^m^{ission o}ⁿ^the^Se^le^c^tion^of^Fe^de^ra^l
^J^udg^e^s^,^Improvⁱⁿ^{g t}^h^e^Proc^e^{ss of}^App^o^intⁱⁿ^g^Fe^de^ral^J^u^d^g^e^s^{: A Re}^port^{of t}^h^e^M^ille^{r Ce}^nte^r^Commis^s^ion^on^the
^Se^le^c^tion^{of Fe}^de^r^a^{l J}^u^dge^s^(C^ha^rlotte^sv^ille^,^V^A^{: Mille}^{r Ce}^nte^r^of^Publ^ic^Aff^a^{irs, Univ}^e^r^sit^y^of^Vⁱ^rg^inia^,¹⁹^96),^p.^4.
²⁶^S^{ee A}^l^an^Ne^ff^,^The^Uⁿ^ite^d^St^ate^s^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^J^u^d^g^e^N^o^mⁱⁿ^a^ti^{ng C}^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^ons^:^T^h^eⁱ^r^M^e^m^b^e^r^s^,^Pr^oc^e^dur^e^s^an^d
^C^and^id^ate^s^(Chⁱ^cago^:^A^m^eri^can^J^u^dⁱ^cat^u^r^{e S}^o^ci^et^y^,¹⁹⁸¹⁾^,²⁰³^p.⁽^H^erea^f^t^{er ci}^t^e^d^{as Ne}^ff^,U^nite^{d Sta}^t^e^s^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^J^udge
^N^o^mⁱ^na^tin^{g C}^o^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^ons^.⁾^S^{ee al}^so^Ch^arl^e^{s W}^.^Hu^cker,^“Rep^o^r^t^C^a^rd^oⁿ^Judⁱ^ci^al^M^e^ri^t^S^e^l^ectⁱ^oⁿ^,^”^C^ongr^e^s^sⁱ^o^nal
^Qu^a^r^t^e^rl^{y Weekl}^{y R}^e^p^o^r^t^{, v}^o^l.^37,^Fe^b.^3,¹⁹^79,^p^p^.¹⁸^9-¹^91.^P^r^e^s^id^eⁿ^{t C}^a^r^t^e^r^’^s^a^d^v^o^c^a^c^y^,^one^ne^w^s^r^e^por^t^note^d^,
ⁱⁿ^cl^ud^edⁱ^ssu^an^ce^o^f^an^execu^tⁱ^v^e^o^r^d^e^{r “u}^rgiⁿ^{g sen}^a^t^o^{rs t}^o^vo^l^uⁿ^t^a^rⁱ^l^y^f^o^rego^t^h^ei^{r p}^a^t^r^on^{age p}^r^ero^g^atⁱ^v^{es an}^d
^e^s^ta^blis^{h c}^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^ons^f^o^r^the^s^e^le^c^{tion of}^U^.^S.^dis^t^rⁱ^c^t^c^our^t^ju^dg^e^s^{on t}^h^e^ba^sⁱ^s^of^m^e^r^it.”^A^l^aⁿ^B^e^r^l^ow^{, “}^C^a^r^te^r^O^r^de^r
^Ra^is^e^s^D^oubts^W^h^e^t^he^{r J}^u^dg^e^s^{Will Be}^Se^le^c^t^e^d^oⁿ^Me^rit^Ba^sⁱ^s^,^”^C^ongr^e^s^sⁱ^o^nal^Q^u^ar^te^r^l^y^W^eekl^{y R}^e^p^o^r^t^{, v}^o^l^.³⁶^,
^N^o^v^.¹⁸^{, 1}⁹⁷⁸^,^p.³³¹³^.
²⁷^T^h^e^c^u^r^r^e^{nt us}^e^of^outsⁱ^de^nomⁱⁿ^a^ting^c^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^ons^by^s^o^m^e^Se^na^t^o^r^s^{to e}^v^a^l^ua^te^aⁿ^{d r}^e^c^o^m^m^e^{nd ju}^dicⁱ^a^l^c^a^ndi^da^te^s
^{is disc}^usse^{d i}ⁿ^m^o^re^de^ta^{il la}^te^{r in}^{this re}^p^o^rt,^u^nde^{r t}^h^{e h}^eadⁱⁿ^{g “P}^r^o^ced^u^r^{es Used}^t^o^Id^entⁱ^f^y^an^d^E^v^al^u^a^t^e
^C^a^ndida^te^s^.^”
²⁸^Se^e^C^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^L³²⁰¹³^,^T^h^e^Hi^st^o^r^{y o}^f^t^h^{e B}^l^u^e^S^lⁱ^pⁱⁿ^t^h^{e S}^e^na^t^e^Co^mmi^t^t^{ee on}^t^h^{e Ju}^di^ci^a^r^y,¹⁹¹⁷^-P^resen^t^{, by}
^Mitc^he^{l A}^.^Solle^nbe^r^g^e^r^{. Se}^e^a^l^s^o^Sa^r^a^{h A}^.^Bⁱ^nde^r^,^“^W^he^r^e^D^o^Iⁿ^s^t^ituti^ons^C^o^m^e^Fr^om^?^Ex^plor^ing^t^h^e^O^r^ig^ins^of^the
^Se^na^te^B^l^ue^Sl^ip,”^S^t^u^d^{ies in}^Americaⁿ^P^o^litica^l^Develo^p^m^en^t^,^v^o^l.^21,^Ma^r^c^{h 2}⁰⁰⁷^,^pp^{. 1-}¹⁵^{. (}^H^e^r^e^a^f^te^r^c^ite^{d a}^s
^Binde^{r, “}^W^he^re^{Do I}ⁿ^stitu^tio^{ns C}^o^m^e^From^?^”⁾

response.²⁹ Some, but not all, chairs of the Judiciary Committee have required a return of a
positive blue slip by both of a state’s Senators before allowing consideration of a nomination.
For more than two decades, from 1956 through 1978, when a Senator returned a negative blue
slip or failed to return a blue slip for a judicial nomination, it was the policy of the committee
chair, in deference to the Senator, to decline to schedule a hearing or other committee action on ³⁰
the nomination. In other words, a home state Senator, by not returning a blue slip or by
returning it with a negative response, could halt all further action on a nominee from the state.
This policy, in effect, gave Senators of either party, if they wished to exercise it through the blue ³¹
slip, a veto over any home state judicial nomination to which they were opposed. In so doing,
the committee policy, some scholars have suggested, also had the effect of encouraging
presidential administrations to consult beforehand with Senators of the opposition party, as well
as of the President’s party, to be sure that they would not oppose a person being considered for a ³²
judicial nomination in the state in question.
Since 1979, however, deference to home state Senators using the blue slip to block or delay
judicial nominees has not always been automatic. While some chairs of the Judiciary Committee, ^th
including Senator Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) in the 110 Congress, have permitted committee
action on a judicial nomination only when both home state Senators returned positive slips, the
committee under other chairs, by contrast, has considered a judicial nomination with receipt of ³³
only one positive blue slip, or on a few occasions, without a blue slip from either home state ³⁴
Senator.”
While the blue slip policies of various recent chairs of the Judiciary Committee have varied,
nearly all policies, when articulated in writing, have communicated to the President the ³⁵
importance of pre-nomination consultation with both home state Senators. Pre-nomination
consultation, a 2003 analysis concluded:

²⁹^C^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^L³²⁰¹³^,^T^h^{e Hi}^st^{ory o}^f^t^h^{e B}^l^u^e^S^lⁱ^pⁱⁿ^t^h^e^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^Co^mmi^t^t^{ee o}ⁿ^t^h^{e Jud}ⁱ^ci^a^r^y,¹⁹¹⁷^-^P^r^esen^t^{, p.}^4.
³⁰^Ibid^{., p. 9.}
³¹^By^coⁿ^t^{rast, p}^r^io^r^to¹⁹⁵⁶^{, d}^u^riⁿ^g^th^{e f}ⁱ^{rst f}^o^u^r^d^ecad^{es o}^f^th^{e Ju}^dⁱ^ciar^y^Co^mm^{ittee’s b}^l^u^e^slip^p^o^lic^y^,^“n^o^ch^{air o}^f
^t^h^{e Ju}^di^ci^ary^Co^mmⁱ^t^t^{ee al}^l^o^w^e^d^an^yⁿ^e^g^a^tⁱ^v^{e b}^l^u^e^slⁱ^p^{s t}^o^au^t^o^m^a^tⁱ^cal^l^y^vet^o^{a n}^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^oⁿ^.^{” I}ⁿ^st^ead,^j^u^dⁱ^ci^al
ⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^atioⁿ^s^p^r^o^m^p^tin^gⁿ^e^g^a^tiv^e^b^l^u^e^sli^p^{s f}^r^o^m^h^o^m^{e stat}^{e Sen}^a^to^{rs receiv}^e^d^co^mm^{ittee h}^earin^g^s^aⁿ^d^ev^en^{, i}ⁿ^so^m^e
^cases,^w^e^{re r}^e^p^o^r^t^e^d^b^y^t^h^{e co}^mmi^t^t^{ee t}^o^t^h^{e f}^u^l^l^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^.^T^h^{ese ep}ⁱ^s^o^d^e^{s ap}^p^eared^t^o^s^h^o^w^t^h^at^t^h^{e commi}^t^t^{ee’s p}^o^lⁱ^c^y^,
^durⁱⁿ^g^this^tⁱ^m^e^{, “w}^a^s^tha^t^a^ne^g^a^tiv^e^blue^s^lⁱ^p^w^a^s^notⁱⁿ^te^nde^d^to^pre^v^eⁿ^{t c}^o^m^m^itte^e^a^c^{tion. I}ⁿ^ste^a^d^{, a}^Se^na^tor’s
ⁿ^e^gatⁱ^v^{e ass}^e^ss^men^t^o^f^{a n}^o^mⁱⁿ^{ee w}^a^s^mean^t^t^o^exp^r^{ess t}^o^t^h^{e co}^mmⁱ^t^t^{ee h}ⁱ^{s vi}^e^w^{s o}ⁿ^t^h^{e no}^mⁱⁿ^{ee s}^o^t^h^at^t^h^e
^ch^ai^rman^w^o^u^l^d^b^e^b^e^t^t^e^{r p}^r^e^p^ared^t^o^d^eal^wⁱ^t^h^t^h^{e revi}^e^w^o^f^t^h^{e no}^mⁱⁿ^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^.^T^h^{e end}^resu^l^t^w^a^{s t}^h^at^Ju^dⁱ^ci^ary
^Com^m^itte^e^c^h^aⁱ^r^m^eⁿ^didⁿ^o^{t tra}^dⁱ^tiona^lly^vⁱ^e^w^a^ne^g^a^tive^blue^s^lip^a^s^a^sigⁿ^{to sto}^p^a^{ll a}^c^tⁱ^on^on^ju^di^cⁱ^a^l^nom^ina^tions.”
^I^b^id.^p.^9.
³²^S^ee,^f^o^{r exa}^m^p^l^e,ⁱⁿ^Bran^noⁿ^P^.^Denⁿⁱⁿ^g^,^“T^h^e^Ju^di^ci^al^Coⁿ^fⁱ^r^m^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^P^r^o^{cess an}^{d t}^h^{e Bl}^u^e^S^lⁱ^p^,^”^J^udic^a^tur^e^{, v}^o^l.
^85,^Ma^r^c^h-^A^p^r^{il 2}⁰⁰²^,^pp.²^18-²²^{6, t}^h^e^f^o^llowⁱ^ng^qu^ote^,^a^t^p.²²^2:^“^J^us^{t m}^a^kⁱ^ng^k^now^{n [}^t^o^the^a^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tioⁿ^]^t^h^a^t^the
^s^e^na^tor^is^o^p^p^o^s^e^{d a}ⁿ^{d w}^oul^{d, if}^t^h^e^pe^r^s^on^isⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^te^{d, w}^ithho^ld^the^bl^ue^s^lip^{, s}^e^nds^a^pow^e^r^f^u^{l s}ⁱ^gna^{l tha}^t^tr^o^uble^is
^{in t}^h^e^of^fⁱ^ng^{. T}^h^eⁿ^the^a^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion^m^u^s^t^de^cⁱ^de^w^h^e^t^he^r^orⁿ^o^{t i}^t^w^a^nts^{to pic}^k^a^fⁱ^g^h^{t. W}^{ith ju}^dicⁱ^a^l^nom^ina^tions^,
^t^h^en^,^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^e^h^a^{s creat}^ed^an^ef^fectⁱ^v^{e p}^r^o^ced^u^r^{e f}^o^{r en}^su^riⁿ^g^t^h^atⁱ^t^s^‘ad^vⁱ^{ce’ i}^s^so^u^g^h^t^b^y^t^h^{e p}^r^esi^d^en^t^p^rⁱ^o^r^t^o^t^h^e
^a^nno^unc^e^m^eⁿ^{t of}^a^nom^ina^tion..^.^.^“^Se^e^a^l^{so Bin}^d^e^r^{, “}^W^he^re^{Do In}^stituti^{ons C}^o^m^e^From^?^”^,^w^{ho, a}^t^{p. 1}^,^o^b^se^rv^e^d^tha^t
^the^bl^ue^s^lip^“^a^llow^s^hom^e^s^t^a^t^e^se^na^tor^s^to^inf^l^ue^nc^e^the^c^our^s^e^of^nom^ina^tions^pr^os^pe^c^tiv^e^l^y^—^eⁿ^c^our^a^g^ing^pr^e^s^ideⁿ^ts
^t^o^h^{eed t}^h^e^p^r^ef^eren^{ces o}^f^h^o^m^{e s}^t^at^{e sen}^a^t^o^{rs i}ⁿ^sel^ectⁱⁿ^gⁿ^e^w^f^e^d^e^ral^j^u^d^g^es.^”
³³^C^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^L³²⁰¹³^,^T^h^{e Hi}^st^{ory o}^f^t^h^{e B}^l^u^e^S^lⁱ^pⁱⁿ^t^h^e^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^Co^mmi^t^t^{ee o}ⁿ^t^h^{e Jud}ⁱ^ci^a^r^y,¹⁹¹⁷^-^P^r^esen^t^{, pp}^{. 1}¹^-
^{14, 24}^.
³⁴^I^b^id^.,^pp.¹³^,^22;^Bⁱⁿ^d^e^r^{, “}^W^he^r^e^D^o^Iⁿ^s^tⁱ^t^uti^ons^C^o^m^e^Fr^om^?^,^”^{p. 15,}ⁿ^o^te⁵³^.
³⁵^For^e^x^a^m^ple^,^Se^{n. J}^o^s^e^p^h^R^.^Bⁱ^d^e^{n, J}^r^{. (}^D^-^D^E)^{, J}^udicⁱ^a^r^y^C^o^m^m^it^te^e^c^h^aⁱ^r^m^aⁿ^f^r^o^m¹⁹⁸⁷^to¹⁹⁹⁴^{, i}ⁿ^a¹⁹⁸⁹^le^tte^r^t^o
^P^r^esi^d^eⁿ^t^G^e^o^r^{ge H.}^W^.^Bu^sh^em^p^h^asi^zed^t^h^{e i}^m^p^o^r^t^aⁿ^{ce o}^f^the^Pre^s^ideⁿ^{t’s A}^d^mⁱ^nistra^{tion c}^o^nsultiⁿ^g^“^w^{ith bo}^th^hom^e
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

^h^a^{s b}^een^{a k}^e^y^e^x^p^ectatioⁿ^o^f^recen^{t [J}^u^d^iciary^Co^mm^{ittee] ch}^air^m^eⁿⁱⁿ^t^h^{e ev}^al^u^a^tioⁿ^o^f
ⁿ^e^g^a^tⁱ^v^e^blu^e^s^lips^.^T^h^{e P}^r^es^iden^{t i}^sⁿ^o^w^e^x^{pected to cons}^u^l^t^an^{d i}ⁿ^v^o^lv^{e eac}^h^h^o^m^e^s^t^ate
^Sen^a^{tor i}ⁿ^t^h^{e pre-n}^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^ph^as^e^of^th^e^s^e^lectioⁿ^p^r^oces^s^.^W^ith^{out e}^v^iden^{ce o}^f
^coⁿ^s^u^ltatioⁿ^b^y^t^h^{e W}^h^ite^Ho^u^s^{e, v}^a^rⁱ^o^u^s^ch^aⁱ^r^m^eⁿ^h^a^v^e^app^{eared, as}^a^m^a^{tter of}^polic^y^,^to
^{accord g}^r^{eater v}^a^l^u^{e to a}ⁿ^e^g^a^ti^v^e^blu^e^s^l^{ip s}^u^b^m^it^{ted b}^y^{a n}^oⁿ^-^coⁿ^s^u^lted^h^o^m^e^s^t^ate³⁶
^Senato^r^.
Moreover, the role contemplated for Senators not of the President’s party, when engaging in pre-
nomination consultation with the President, has been expanded. Official blue slip policy
statements by recent chairs of the Judiciary Committee, for instance, have not only called for the
opportunity for opposition party Senators to express opinions about judgeship candidates being
considered by the Administration, but also the opportunity to propose their own candidates to the ³⁷
Administration.
In sum, the Judiciary Committee’s blue slip policy in recent decades, as applied in somewhat
varying ways by different chairs, appears always intended to promote some measure of an
advisory role for home state Senators of both parties in the judicial nominee selection process.
Moreover, the contemplated advisory role has included the opportunity, if Senators wish, to make
recommendations to the President about whom to nominate. As a caveat, however, it should be
kept in mind that the blue slip policy is set by the committee’s chair and is not a part of the
committee’s written rules. As a result, the policy’s key elements, including the degree of
importance placed on Administration consultation with home state Senators, is always subject to
change, in keeping with the prerogatives of the committee chair.

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^{state Sen}^a^to^{rs p}^rⁱ^o^{r t}^o^su^b^m^ittin^g^th^{e n}^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tioⁿ^t^o^t^h^{e Sen}^a^te.”^If^su^ch^“g^o^o^d^f^a^ith^coⁿ^s^u^ltatioⁿ^”^dⁱ^dⁿ^o^{t tak}^e^p^l^{ace, h}^e
^sai^d^,^“t^h^e^Judⁱ^ci^ary^Co^mmⁱ^t^t^ee^wⁱ^l^l^t^r^eat^t^h^{e ret}^u^rn^o^f^{a n}^e^gatⁱ^v^{e b}^l^u^e^slⁱ^p^b^y^{a h}^o^m^{e st}^at^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^{r as d}ⁱ^sp^o^sⁱ^tⁱ^v^{e an}^d
^theⁿ^o^mⁱ^ne^e^w^{ill not}^be^c^o^nside^r^e^d^.”^Se^n.^Jose^p^h^{R. Bi}^de^{n Jr}^.^,^le^tte^{r to}^P^r^e^sⁱ^d^eⁿ^{t G}^e^org^e^H.W^.^Bush,^T^h^e^W^h^ite^House^,
^Juⁿ^e^6,¹⁹⁸⁹^.
^Se^{n. O}^rri^{n G}^.^H^a^tc^{h (R-U}^T⁾^{, the}^c^o^m^m^ittee^’^s^c^h^aⁱ^r^m^aⁿ^f^r^o^m¹⁹⁹⁵^{to 2}⁰⁰¹^aⁿ^{d a}^g^aⁱ^{n f}^r^om²⁰⁰³^to²⁰⁰⁴^{, w}^r^oteⁱⁿ¹⁹⁹⁷
^{to t}^h^e^W^h^ite^House^c^o^unse^l^t^o^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t W}^illia^m^{J. Clinto}^{n th}^a^t^“^t^he^Se^na^te^e^x^pe^c^t^{s g}^e^nuine^{, g}^o^{od f}^a^{ith c}^ons^ulta^ti^on^by
^the^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^{tion w}^{ith h}^o^m^e^s^t^ate^Se^na^tor^s^be^f^o^r^e^a^judicⁱ^a^l^nom^ina^tio^{n is}^m^a^de^{, a}^{nd t}^h^e^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion’^s^f^a^ilur^e^to
^coⁿ^s^u^l^{t i}ⁿ^genuⁱⁿ^{e goo}^{d f}^aⁱ^t^h^wⁱ^t^h^bo^t^h^ho^m^e^st^at^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^r^sⁱ^t^s^el^fⁱ^s^gr^o^uⁿ^d^s^f^o^r^{a S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^r^’^s^r^e^tu^rⁿ^of^{a n}^e^gatⁱ^{ve b}^l^u^e
^s^{lip. W}^h^e^r^e^the^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion^ha^s^f^a^ile^{d to pr}^ovⁱ^d^e^g^o^o^d^f^a^{ith pre}^-^nom^ina^tion^c^ons^ulta^tio^{n, a}^ne^g^a^tiv^e^blue^slip^is
^tre^a^t^e^d^a^s^disposi^tiv^e^,^a^nd^pre^c^l^ud^e^s^Com^m^itte^e^c^onside^r^a^tio^{n of}^a^j^udicⁱ^a^l^nom^ine^e^.^”^Se^{n. Orri}^{n G}^.^Ha^tc^{h, le}^tte^{r to}
^C^h^a^r^le^s^F.C^.^R^u^f^f^,^c^ouns^e^l^{to t}^h^e^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t, T}^h^e^W^h^ite^H^o^us^e^,^A^p^r^.^16,¹⁹⁹⁷^.
^Se^n.^P^a^tr^ic^k^J^.^L^e^a^h^y⁽^D^-^V^T⁾^{, the}^c^o^m^m^itte^e^’^s^c^h^aⁱ^r^m^aⁿ^f^r^o^m²⁰⁰¹^-²⁰^02,^w^a^s^r^e^por^te^{d a}^s^ha^vⁱ^ng^s^a^{id, i}ⁿ^aⁿ^J^une^6,
²⁰⁰^1,^inte^r^v^ie^w^,^tha^t^“^unle^s^s^he^is^s^a^tis^fⁱ^e^d^tha^t^bot^{h s}^e^na^t^o^r^s^f^r^om^t^h^e^hom^e^s^t^a^t^e^of^a^nom^ine^e^ha^v^e^be^eⁿ^c^ons^ulte^d^by
^the^Bush^a^d^mⁱ^nistra^tion^,^aⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^{tion w}^{ill n}^o^{t m}^o^v^e^.”^Eliz^a^b^e^t^{h A}^.^P^a^lm^e^r^{, “}^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^G^O^P^Ba^c^k^{s Dow}ⁿ^f^r^o^m^Dispute
^ov^e^r^H^a^ndling^of^N^o^mⁱ^ne^e^s^,”^CQ^Weekl^y,^v^o^{l. 59, J}^une^9,²⁰^01,^p.¹³⁶^0.
³⁶^C^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^L³²⁰¹³^,^T^h^{e Hi}^st^{ory o}^f^t^h^{e B}^l^u^e^S^lⁱ^pⁱⁿ^t^h^e^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^Co^mmi^t^t^{ee o}ⁿ^t^h^{e Jud}ⁱ^ci^a^r^y,¹⁹¹⁷^-^P^r^esen^t^{, p.}²⁵^.
³⁷^{For i}ⁿ^staⁿ^c^e^,ⁱⁿ^hⁱ^{s 1}⁹⁹⁷^le^tte^{r t}^o^the^W^h^ite^Ho^use^c^o^uⁿ^se^{l to}^Pre^s^ideⁿ^{t W}^illia^m^Clinto^{n, Se}^{n. Orri}ⁿ^G^.^Ha^tc^{h (R-}
^UT^),^ch^ai^r^m^an^o^f^t^h^{e Ju}^dⁱ^ci^ary^C^o^mmⁱ^t^t^ee,^lⁱ^s^t^e^d^fⁱ^v^e^ci^rcu^m^st^an^c^e^{s i}ⁿ^dⁱ^catⁱⁿ^{g “an}^ab^sen^ce^o^f^go^o^d^f^aⁱ^t^h^coⁿ^s^u^l^t^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^”
^b^y^t^h^{e W}^hⁱ^t^e^Ho^u^s^{e w}ⁱ^t^h^h^o^m^{e st}^at^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^rs.^On^e^o^f^t^h^{e f}ⁱ^{ve ci}^rcu^m^st^an^ces,^h^e^sai^d^,^w^a^{s t}^h^{e “fai}^l^u^{re t}^o^gi^{ve seri}^o^u^s
^c^ons^ide^r^a^tio^{n t}^oⁱ^ndivⁱ^dua^ls^pr^op^os^e^d^by^hom^e^s^t^a^t^e^Se^na^tor^s^a^s^p^o^s^sⁱ^bleⁿ^o^mⁱ^ne^e^s^.”^Se^{n. O}^r^rⁱ^{n G}^.^H^a^tc^{h, le}^tte^r^to
^C^h^a^r^le^s^F.C^.^R^u^f^f^,^c^ouns^e^l^{to t}^h^e^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t, A}^p^r^il¹⁶^{, 1}⁹⁹⁷^.^For^a^lⁱ^s^ting^of^a^{ll f}ⁱ^v^e^“c^ir^c^u^m^s^ta^nc^e^s^”ⁱⁿ^Se^n.^H^a^tc^h’^s
^le^tte^{r, se}^e^{CRS Re}^{port RL}³²⁰^13,^T^h^{e Hi}^st^o^r^{y of}^t^h^{e B}^l^u^e^S^lⁱ^pⁱⁿ^t^h^e^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^Co^mmi^t^t^{ee on}^t^h^{e Ju}^di^ci^ary,¹⁹¹⁷^-^P^r^esen^t^,
^{pp. 15}^-¹^6.

The political party affiliations of a state’s Senators usually, if not always, are an important
determinant of what role they play in the selection of federal judicial nominees in their state. As a
general rule, a Senator who belongs to the President’s party has the primary role in
recommending candidates for federal district court judgeships in the home state, and an
influential, if not the primary, role in recommending candidates for federal circuit court
judgeships associated with the home state. These, as a general rule, are in contrast to the much
lesser roles in recommending district and circuit court candidates played by a Senator who is of
the opposite party. If both of a state’s Senators are of the President’s party, they usually, although
not always, share the responsibility of recommending judicial candidates to the President. If
neither Senator is of the President’s party, some other official or officials in their state typically
assume the primary role of recommending judicial candidates. Senators not of the President’s
party, however, sometimes are in a position to establish for themselves a more influential role in
recommending judicial candidates than as just described. This particularly might prove to be the
case if the Senators are perceived by the Administration as having the ability and likely
inclination to block nominations in the Senate (either in committee or on the floor) unless
afforded an enhanced role in judicial nominee selection.
As already discussed,³⁸ Senators of the President’s party, by well-established custom, are the key
persons who provide the President’s Administration with recommendations for U.S. district court
judgeships in their state. One authority on the judicial appointments process, writing in 1987,
noted:
A senator of the president’s party expects to be able to influence heavily the selection of a federal
district judgeship in the senator’s state; indeed, most such senators insist on being able to pick
these judges, and they expect judgeships on the federal courts of appeals going to persons from ³⁹
their states to be “cleared” by them....
When only one of a state’s Senators is of the President’s party, he or she alone, by custom, is
entitled to select all candidates for district judgeships in that state. If the Administration has
concerns about a Senator’s recommendation, it is expected to resolve those concerns with the
Senator. If the Administration continues to have a problem with a candidate, finding him or her
unacceptable as a nominee, the Senator, and not any other official outside the Administration, is
called on to provide a different recommendation. If the Administration prefers its own candidate,
it in turn must persuade the Senator to agree to its choice. For the Administration to do otherwise,
and push forward with a nominee objected to by the Senator, is to risk rejection by the Senate,
given the custom of senatorial courtesy, discussed earlier. The latter scenario is very rare,

³⁸^Se^e^e^a^r^lie^r^s^e^c^{tion in}^this^r^e^por^t^unde^r^the^he^a^d^ing^“^S^eⁿ^a^t^or^ia^{l C}^o^ur^te^s^y^.”
³⁹^She^l^d^oⁿ^G^o^ldm^a^{n, “}^J^udicⁱ^a^l^Se^le^c^tion,”ⁱⁿ^R^obe^r^t^J^.^J^a^nos^ik^{, e}^d^.^,^Eⁿ^cycl^o^p^e^dⁱ^a^of^t^h^e^A^m^eri^c^aⁿ^Judⁱ^ci^a^l^S^y^st^em:
^Stu^d^ie^{s of}^the^Priⁿ^cⁱ^p^a^{l I}ⁿ^stitu^tio^{ns a}^{nd Pr}^oc^e^sse^{s of Law}^{, 3 v}^o^l^s^.⁽^N^ew^Y^o^r^k^{, Sc}^rⁱ^bne^r^,¹⁹⁸⁷⁾^{, v}^o^l.^{2, p}^.⁵⁸⁹^.
^(Herea^f^t^{er ci}^t^e^d^as^G^o^l^d^m^aⁿ^,ⁱⁿ^Eⁿ^cycl^o^p^e^dⁱ^a^of^A^m^eri^c^aⁿ^J^u^dⁱ^ci^a^l^S^y^st^em^.)

however, for “[n]o administration deliberately seeks to alienate senators of their own party or to ⁴⁰
run the risk of a senator’s sabotaging a nomination once it has been sent to the Senate.”
When only one of a state’s Senators is of the President’s party, that Senator will have almost
complete discretion as to whether or how to consult with the state’s other Senator about judicial
nominations. There is no requirement that the former consult with the latter, and some Senators in
such a situation may decline to consult with their home state colleague in any way. On the other
hand, many Senators in such situations have consulted with their home state colleague, in various
ways, and some have gone so far as to involve them in a joint or coordinated process of ⁴¹
recommending judicial candidates to the President. The following list notes some options
available to a Senator of the President’s party when considering whether or how to consult or
cooperate with a home state colleague of the opposite party about judicial nominee
recommendations. The options are not exhaustive but, rather, identify different degrees of
consultation or cooperation about judicial candidates that can exist between home state Senators
of opposite political parties:
• The Senator of the President’s party makes recommendations to the
Administration without consulting the other home state Senator at any stage—
apprising the latter neither of persons under consideration early in the process nor
of persons actually recommended later in the process.
• The Senator as a courtesy informs the other home state Senator of the person
whom the former has recommended for a judicial nomination, without, however,
soliciting the latter’s views about the candidate or about other possible
candidates.
• The Senator informs the other home state Senator of persons under consideration
as potential judicial nominees, welcoming input from the latter about these
candidates as well as suggestions as to other possible candidates.
• The Senator agrees to allow the other home state Senator to select a minority of
the members of an advisory panel which evaluates and screens judicial
candidates before the first Senator decides whom to recommend.

⁴⁰^I^b^id^{., p. 59}^0.
⁴¹^For^e^x^a^m^ple^,^{in 1}⁰^s^t^a^t^e^s^du^rⁱ^ng^the^C^a^r^t^e^r^pr^e^s^ideⁿ^c^y⁽¹⁹⁷^7-¹⁹⁸⁰⁾^{, a}^s^c^hola^r^ha^s^no^te^d,^Se^na^tor^s^“^w^{ho w}^e^r^e^{not i}ⁿ
^the^pre^s^ideⁿ^{t’s pa}^rty^pla^y^e^d^a^sigⁿ^if^ic^aⁿ^{t role}ⁱⁿ^se^le^c^tion^by^e^s^ta^blis^hing^or^c^o^-^c^os^p^ons^or^ing^nom^ina^ting
^co^mmⁱ^ssioⁿ^s^.^”^Neff^,^Uⁿ^ite^{d St}^ate^s^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^J^udge^N^o^mⁱⁿ^a^ti^{ng C}^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^ons^,^p.^20.^Iⁿ^a^l^ong^-^s^taⁿ^dⁱⁿ^g^a^r^r^a^ng^em^eⁿ^{t in}
^Ne^w^Yo^rk,^w^h^en^t^h^at^st^at^{e h}^a^d^b^o^t^h^{a Repu}^b^lⁱ^{can an}^d^{a Dem}^o^cratⁱ^c^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^r,^t^h^e^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^r^o^f^t^h^e^P^r^esi^d^en^t^’^{s p}^a^rt^y
^c^u^s^t^om^a^r^il^y^pr^opos^e^d^c^aⁿ^dida^te^s^f^o^r^thr^e^e^out^of^e^v^e^r^y^f^our^v^acan^cⁱ^{es i}ⁿ^t^h^{e f}^e^d^e^ral^dⁱ^st^ri^ct^c^o^u^r^t^s^l^o^cat^edⁱⁿ^New
^Yo^rk^{, w}^ith^th^{e o}^t^h^e^{r Sen}^a^t^o^r^p^r^o^p^o^sin^g^{a can}^dⁱ^d^a^{te to}^f^{ill t}^h^{e f}^o^u^r^t^h^ju^dⁱ^{cial v}^acan^c^y^{. Fo}^{r a f}^u^{ller d}^e^scrip^tioⁿ^o^f^th^e
^a^r^r^a^ng^em^eⁿ^{t in N}^e^w^Y^o^r^k^{, s}^e^e^Fede^r^a^{l B}^a^r^C^o^uⁿ^c^{il C}^o^m^m^itte^e^{on Se}^c^{ond C}ⁱ^r^c^{uit C}^our^ts^{, “}^J^ud^ic^ia^{l V}^acan^ci^es:^T^h^e
^P^r^oc^e^s^sⁱ^ng^of^J^udicⁱ^a^l^C^aⁿ^d^ida^t^e^s^{: W}^h^y^I^t^T^a^ke^s^{So L}^ong^a^{nd H}^o^w^I^t^C^o^uld^B^e^Sh^or^te^ne^d^,^”^Fed^e^ra^{l Ru}^les^Decisioⁿ^s^,
^v.¹²⁸^,^Jan^.¹⁹⁹⁰^,^p.¹⁴^5.^Mo^{re recen}^t^l^y^at^t^h^{e st}^art^o^f^t^h^{e p}^r^esi^d^en^c^y^o^f^G^e^o^r^ge^W^.^Bu^sh^,ⁱⁿ²⁰⁰¹^,^N^e^vad^a^{’s t}^w^o
^Se^na^tor^s⁽^o^ne^R^e^p^ublic^aⁿ^aⁿ^d^the^othe^r^D^e^m^o^c^r^a^t⁾^a^nno^unc^e^d^aⁿ^a^g^r^e^em^eⁿ^{t in w}^h^ic^{h t}^h^e^la^tte^r^Se^na^tor^w^ould
^reco^mmen^d^can^dⁱ^d^a^t^e^{s f}^o^{r on}^{e out}^o^f^ever^y^f^o^u^r^dⁱ^st^ri^ct^cou^r^t^vacan^ci^{es o}^ccu^rriⁿ^gⁱⁿ^t^h^{e st}^at^{e (an}^arr^aⁿ^g^e^m^en^t
^de^s^c^rⁱ^be^{d a}^s^ba^s^e^d^on^the^bⁱ^pa^r^tis^aⁿ^a^r^r^a^ng^em^eⁿ^{t, jus}^t^dis^c^us^s^e^{d, t}^h^a^t^w^a^s^{in e}^f^f^e^c^t^f^o^r^m^aⁿ^y^y^e^a^r^sⁱⁿ^N^e^w^Y^o^r^k⁾^.
^M^a^t^t^h^ew^T^u^l^l^y^an^d^E^mⁱ^l^y^Pⁱ^erce,^“S^en^at^o^r^{s W}^o^{rk Ou}^t^No^vel^A^g^ree^m^en^t^s^oⁿ^J^u^dⁱ^ci^ary^P^o^st^s,^”^{CQ D}^a^ily^M^oni^tor^{, J}^une
¹³^,²⁰⁰¹^{, p}^.⁵^.^T^h^{e same sto}^r^y^rep^o^rted^t^h^{at a “sim}^{ilar ag}^r^e^e^m^en^{t” h}^a^d^b^een^reach^ed^b^y^th^{e Sen}^a^to^{rs f}^r^o^m^Illin^oⁱ^{s (}^oⁿ^e
^{a Rep}^u^b^lⁱ^can,^t^h^{e o}^t^h^e^{r a Dem}^o^cr^at^{) f}^o^{r maki}ⁿ^g^j^u^dⁱ^ci^alⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^{ee r}^eco^mmen^d^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^.

• The Senator shares the recommending function with the other home state
Senator, allowing the latter to select candidates for a minority of the judgeships
which become vacant in the state (for example, for every fourth judgeship).
• The two Senators work as co-equals in the selection process—for example, by
using a completely bipartisan panel or commission to identify and screen
applicants, and with all candidate recommendations to the President made by the
Senators jointly.
These options, as mentioned, are almost entirely at the discretion of the Senator of the President’s
party, with his or her views about the judicial appointment process largely determining the extent
to which there will be consultation or cooperation with the other home state Senator. Such views,
in turn, may be influenced by the immediate political environment, including (1) the nature of
working relations between the two Senators in general (e.g., strained or cordial); (2) the past
practices of Senators in the state regarding judicial patronage (i.e., whether Senators in the state
previously worked closely together on judicial appointments); (3) the degree of Administration
support for consultation or cooperation between Senators of opposite political parties on home ⁴²
state appointments; and (4) the extent to which the other Senator is perceived as able or inclined ⁴³
to block home state nominations either in committee or in the full Senate.
If both of a state’s Senators are of the President’s party, they may share the role of recommending
judicial candidates to the President or, alternately, one of them may take the lead role. Senatorial
custom, particularly in recent decades, provides ample support for both Senators having an active
role in recommending judicial candidates in their states, if each wishes to participate in the ⁴⁴
process.
In many states in which both home state Senators are of the President’s party, both may be
engaged in evaluating and selecting judicial candidates. One option within this arrangement is for
both Senators to review and evaluate judicial candidates for every judicial vacancy that arises in
their state. At their discretion, the Senators may use an informal process to select candidates, for

⁴²^Aⁿ^a^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^{tion m}ⁱ^g^h^{t g}^e^ne^r^a^ll^y^r^e^g^a^r^d^bipa^r^tis^aⁿ^c^o^ope^r^a^tioⁿ^b^e^tw^e^eⁿ^hom^e^s^t^a^t^e^Se^na^tor^s^on^ju^dicⁱ^a^l
^nom^ina^{tions a}^s^poli^tic^a^lly^be^ne^fⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^{, insof}^a^{r a}^s^{it pa}^v^e^{s th}^e^w^a^y^f^o^{r bipa}^rtisaⁿ^su^pp^{ort f}^o^{r the}^s^eⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^tio^{ns in}^the
^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^.^S^o^m^e^tⁱ^m^es,^h^o^w^ev^er,^an^ad^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^mⁱ^gh^t^regard^co^o^p^eratⁱ^oⁿ^{as go}ⁱⁿ^{g t}^o^{o f}^a^r—^f^o^{r i}ⁿ^st^an^ce,^w^h^en^t^h^e
^Se^na^tor^of^the^ot^he^r^pa^r^t^y^is^a^llow^e^{d to a}^s^s^u^m^e^the^r^o^le^of^r^e^c^o^m^m^endi^ng^c^a^ndida^te^s^f^o^r^s^o^m^e^of^the^s^t^a^t^e^’^s^judicⁱ^a^l
^nom^ina^tions^a^nd^the^Se^na^t^o^r^t^h^eⁿ^m^a^k^e^s^r^e^c^o^m^m^e^nda^tions^of^w^h^ic^{h the}^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion^dis^a^p^p^r^o^v^e^s^.^Iⁿ^s^u^c^h^ins^t^aⁿ^c^e^s^,
^an^ad^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^mⁱ^gh^t^f^eelⁱ^t^d^o^{es n}^o^t^h^a^{ve t}^o^accep^t^t^h^{ese reco}^mmen^d^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^o^r^reach^acco^mm^o^d^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^wⁱ^t^h^t^h^e
^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^r^oⁿ^{a m}^u^t^u^al^l^y^accep^t^a^b^l^{e ch}^oⁱ^ce,^{as an}^ad^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^t^y^pⁱ^cal^l^y^w^o^u^l^dⁱⁿⁱ^t^sⁱⁿ^t^e^ractⁱ^oⁿ^s^wⁱ^t^h^t^h^{e ho}^m^e^st^at^e
^Se^na^{tor of}^the^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t’s pa}^rty^.
⁴³^T^h^e^a^b^ility^of^oppos^it^io^{n pa}^rty^Se^na^tors^to^bl^oc^k^low^e^{r c}^{ourt n}^o^mⁱ^na^tio^ns^f^r^om^theⁱ^{r s}^t^a^t^e^w^{ill be}^pa^rtic^ula^r^ly
^e^nha^nc^e^d^if^theⁱ^r^pa^rty^{is in the}^S^e^na^te^m^a^jority^a^{nd if}^the^c^h^aⁱ^{r of}^the^Judicⁱ^a^r^y^Com^m^itte^e^{or the}^Se^na^te^m^a^jorit^y
^l^ead^{er i}^s^p^r^ep^ared^t^o^sup^p^o^r^t^t^h^e^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^{rs i}ⁿ^op^po^si^tⁱ^oⁿ^t^o^a^h^o^m^{e st}^at^{e n}^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^oⁿ^.
⁴⁴^Indic^a^tiv^e^of^{this c}^u^st^om^wa^{s a}^s^u^rv^e^y^{in e}^a^r^l^y¹⁹⁹^3,^duriⁿ^g^the^fⁱ^{rst m}^{onths of}^De^m^o^c^r^a^t^W^illia^m^J.^Clint^on’s
^pr^e^s^ideⁿ^c^y^{, of}^s^t^af^f^{in Se}^na^te^of^fⁱ^c^e^s^{on m}^e^thods^us^e^d^{to s}^e^le^c^t^c^aⁿ^dida^te^s^f^o^r^dis^t^rⁱ^c^t^ju^dg^e^s^hips^{. A}^t^tha^t^tim^e^,^{18 s}^t^a^t^e^s
^w^e^r^e^r^e^pr^e^s^eⁿ^te^{d by}^t^w^{o D}^e^m^o^c^r^a^tic^Se^na^tor^s^{. O}^f^the^s^e¹⁸^s^t^a^t^e^s^,^{11 w}^e^r^e^ideⁿ^tif^ie^{d in}^the^s^u^r^v^e^y^as^ha^vⁱ^ng^bot^h^of
^theⁱ^{r Se}^na^t^o^{rs jo}^intly^inv^o^lv^e^dⁱⁿ^the^se^le^c^tion^of^judicⁱ^a^l^c^aⁿ^dida^te^s^,^w^h^ile^{in f}ⁱ^v^e^othe^r^s^t^a^t^e^s^one^of^the^Se^na^t^o^r^s^w^a^s
ⁱ^d^en^tⁱ^fⁱ^e^d^{as t}^h^{e “ch}ⁱ^e^f^sp^on^so^{r” or as “t}^akiⁿ^{g t}^h^{e l}^ead^{” i}ⁿ^t^h^{e sel}^ectⁱ^oⁿ^p^r^o^cess.^{(In t}^h^e^t^w^o^o^t^h^e^{r st}^at^es,^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^rs
^ha^{d y}^e^{t to de}^cⁱ^de^{on w}^h^a^t^s^e^le^c^tio^{n pr}^oc^e^s^s^the^y^w^{ould us}^e^.⁾^C^itizeⁿ^{’s Han}^d^b^ook^Su^pp^le^me^{nt: A}^Stat^e^-^by^-State^G^u^ide
^{to Fe}^de^r^a^l^J^u^dⁱ^cⁱ^al^Se^le^c^tion^(W^a^s^hing^to^{n: A}^llia^nc^e^f^o^{r Justic}^e^,^A^p^{ril 1}⁹⁹³^),¹⁵^{p. (He}^r^e^a^f^te^{r c}^ite^{d a}^s^Citizeⁿ^’s
^H^and^bo^ok^S^u^p^p^le^m^e^nt.⁾⁽^C^opy^of^pa^m^phle^t^a^v^a^ila^ble^f^r^o^m^a^u^thor^.)

example, relying on their personal knowledge of likely candidates or on input from close advisers
or friends in the legal community. Alternately, they may use a more formal process, for example,
relying on advisory panels to review applications, interview candidates and make
recommendations for the Senators to choose from. At the end of the screening process, the
Senators may agree on one or more candidates to recommend to the President for the judgeship,
or, if they cannot reach agreement, they might combine their individual recommendations into
one list to submit to the Administration.
Another option, by contrast, is for both Senators to be active in the judicial candidate selection
process, but to take turns—alternating in the role every time there is a court vacancy in their state.
Alternating, from the workload standpoint (in time required to screen judicial candidates), might
appear more attractive for Senators in states having a relatively large number of district
judgeships, where vacancies occur periodically. It, however, might appear less attractive for
Senators in states having only a handful of district judgeships, where vacancies occur
infrequently. Senators agreeing to alternate may decide, individually, to select candidates through
either an informal or a formal process (as described in the previous paragraph). In cases where
both Senators wish to rely on advisory panels to screen candidates, they have the choice of using
joint panels (which serve on behalf of both Senators—with each Senator typically choosing some
of the panel’s members) or of using their own separate panels. At the end of such an alternating
screening process, only the Senator involved submits a recommendation (or a list of
recommendations) to the President for the vacant judgeship in question.
Sometimes, however, in a state having two Senators of the President’s party, one Senator may opt
out of an active role in recommending judicial candidates, leaving the task primarily to his or her
home state colleague. A Senator might do so for a variety of reasons—lack of interest in judicial
appointments, insufficient time available for the role (given other Senate responsibilities), or out
of deference to the state’s other Senator, due to the latter’s seniority, interests, committee
assignments, or greater experience in evaluating judicial candidates. In such cases, the more
involved Senator, proceeding alone as the lead Senator, may review the backgrounds and
qualifications of judicial applicants with informal support or input from others or, in a more
formal arrangement, receive evaluations of the applicants, or recommendations, from an advisory
panel established specifically on behalf of the Senator to screen judicial candidates.
At one or more points during the screening process, the lead Senator can be expected to consult
with the other Senator—especially at the point at which the latter can be advised of the candidate
or candidates whom the lead Senator believes should be recommended or who have received
advisory panel recommendations. The lead Senator, before finalizing his or her choice of a
candidate, will want the other Senator’s approval—or, failing that, at the very least the other ⁴⁵
Senator’s willingness not to object to the candidate’s nomination later. Once a candidate is
selected, the actual recommendation may be made singly, by the lead Senator, or jointly, by both
Senators. Likewise, a public statement noting a candidate’s nomination by the President may be
made solely by the lead Senator or jointly by both Senators.

⁴⁵^T^h^is^e^ndors^e^m^e^{nt, or c}^o^m^mⁱ^t^m^{ent n}^o^{t t}^o^op^pos^e^,^is^e^s^s^e^ntia^l^{to a}^s^s^u^re^tha^t^t^h^eⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^{tion w}^{ill n}^o^{t l}^a^te^{r be}^bloc^k^e^d
^by^the^s^e^c^{ond Se}^na^t^o^{r e}^ithe^rⁱⁿ^th^e^Se^na^te^J^udicⁱ^a^r^y^Com^m^ittee^(throug^h^no^n-re^turⁿ^of^a^bl^ue^s^lip^or^re^turn^of^a
^ne^g^a^tiv^e^blue^s^lip)^or^{, i}ⁿ^t^h^e^e^v^eⁿ^{t the}ⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^{tion w}^e^r^e^r^e^por^te^d^by^the^c^o^m^m^itte^e^,^{on the}^Se^na^te^f^l^oo^r⁽^b^y^inv^o^kⁱ^ng
^s^e^na^torⁱ^a^l^c^our^te^s^y⁾^.

If both of the state’s Senators are of the President’s party, the prospects for a district court
candidate’s nomination in that state are bolstered if both Senators have recommended that
candidate to the President. A scholar on the judicial appointment process has noted:
^If^th^{ere are t}^w^{o s}^eⁿ^a^tors^of^t^h^e^pres^iden^t’s^part^y^f^r^o^m^{a partic}^u^l^{ar s}^t^{ate, [J}^u^s^{tice] depart}^m^eⁿ^t
^ar^ith^m^e^tic^h^a^s^it^th^a^t^t^h^{e e}^f^f^e^{ct o}^f^t^w^o^seⁿ^a^to^r^s^w^aⁿ^tin^g^a^p^a^r^ticu^l^ar^m^aⁿ^f^o^r^{a d}ⁱ^strⁱ^ct
^j^u^dg^es^hⁱ^p^{in t}^h^eir^s^t^{ate i}^s^m^o^re^th^{an on}^e^plus^oⁿ^{e. T}^h^{e s}^u^mⁱ^s^m^o^re^li^k^eⁱⁿ^fⁱⁿⁱ^t^y^,^f^o^{r it}^w^o^u^l^d
^oⁿ^l^y^b^e^wⁱ^th^g^r^{eat tr}^ep^id^atioⁿ^t^h^{at t}^h^{e p}^r^esid^en^t^’^s^m^eⁿ^w^o^u^l^d^atte^m^p^{t to}^co^uⁿ^ter^t^h^e^wⁱ^{ll o}^f⁴⁶
^b^o^t^{h se}^na^t^o^r^s^.
If neither Senator in a state is of the President’s party, each usually, by custom, plays at most only
a secondary role in recommending judicial candidates for the President’s consideration, with the
primary role assumed by other officials from the state who are of the President’s party. On
occasion, however, exceptions to this rule do occur, with a President sometimes acquiescing to
active senatorial participation in judicial candidate selection in states having two opposition party
Senators. On other occasions, an agreed-upon arrangement in a state might be that while officials
of the President’s party would be the ones recommending judicial candidates, the state’s
opposition party Senators would exercise a veto power over any recommendations they found
objectionable.
By custom, when neither of a state’s Senators is of the President’s party, the primary role in
recommending candidates for district court judgeships is assumed by officials in the state who are
of the President’s party. Historically, in the absence of a Senator of the President’s party, the state
official or officials who most frequently have exercised the judicial “patronage” function have
been the most senior member, or one of the most senior members, of the party’s House of
Representatives delegation, the House party delegation as a whole, the governor, or state party
officials. In any given state, one of these officials may exercise the recommending function
exclusively, or share it with one or more of the others.
A survey published in April 1993 illustrates the customary options used to select candidates for
district judgeships in states not having Senators of the President’s party. The survey, by the
interest group Alliance for Justice, was published shortly after the start of the presidency of
William J. Clinton in January 1993. It was based primarily on interviews with staff members in
the offices of Democratic Senators and House members, with additional information obtained
through interviews of Democratic Party officials. At the time of the survey, there were 11 states in
which neither Senator was a Democrat. In one of the 11 states, a judicial candidate selection
process was not yet in place, and no judicial vacancies were pending there. In the other 10 states,
according to the survey, judicial selection procedures were set or being put in place. The
numerical breakdown of these 10 states, according to the type of Democratic official acting as the
“chief sponsor” of judicial candidates, was as follows:

⁴⁶^Ch^ase,^Fe^de^r^a^{l J}^u^dge^s^{, p. 37}^.

• 5 states—a House of Representatives Member;
• 2 states—the governor;
• 2 states—a House of Representatives Member and the governor;
• 1 state—the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary.⁴⁷
• In June 1993, a few months after the survey’s publication, another state, Texas,
joined the ranks of states in which neither Senator was of the President’s party.
(This occurred when a Republican was elected to a Senate seat in a special
election, giving Texas two Republican Senators.) At that point, it was reported,
“the traditional authority to make recommendations to the President fell to ... ⁴⁸
Texas’s senior congressional Democrat” (the state’s senior Democratic House ⁴⁹
Member).
• Likewise, at the start of presidency of George W. Bush, a Republican, in January
2001, the new Administration looked to other than senatorial sources for advice
on judicial candidates in states having two opposition party Senators. The Legal
Times reported that in “the 18 states where both senators are Democrats, Bush
will be getting advice on potential nominees from a high-ranking Republican ⁵⁰
House member or the state’s Republican governor.” Without listing the
selection methods for each of the 18 states, the article noted, as examples, that in
two of the states a senior Republican House member would be working together
with the Republican governor on judicial recommendations, while in a third state
a Republican House member expected to be the President’s “point man on ⁵¹
judicial nominations.”
• By custom, the role of a state’s Senators in judicial candidate selection, when
neither is of the President’s party, is secondary to the role of those officials
discussed above, who actually choose candidates to recommend to the President.
Customarily, in these circumstances, the state’s Senators, if they are consulted by
state officials of the President’s party, are consulted for their reactions to
candidates under consideration, but not for their own preferences. Where
consultations of this sort are done in good faith, negative as well as positive
feedback from the Senators would be welcomed, but typically they would not be ⁵²
called upon to make their own candidate recommendations. As a scholarly
study has noted, until recent decades:

⁴⁷^Citizeⁿ^{’s Ha}^nd^bo^ok^S^u^p^p^le^me^nt^,^pp.^3-^15.^T^h^e^Se^c^r^e^t^a^r^y^of^A^g^rⁱ^c^u^ltur^e^{, i}^d^eⁿ^tif^ie^{d by}^the^s^u^r^v^e^y^a^s^t^h^e^c^h^ie^f^s^pons^or
^f^o^{r f}^e^d^e^r^a^l^j^u^dⁱ^ci^al^candⁱ^d^a^t^e^{s i}ⁿ^Mⁱ^ssi^ssi^p^pⁱ^,^w^a^{s M}ⁱ^{ke E}^s^p^y^,^w^h^o^,^p^rⁱ^o^{r t}^o^hi^{s ap}^poⁱⁿ^t^m^en^t^{as S}^ecr^et^ar^y^o^f
^Agri^cu^l^t^u^re,^served^{as a De}^m^o^cra^tⁱ^c^M^e^m^b^{er o}^f^t^h^{e U.}^S^.^Hou^s^{e o}^f^Rep^r^esen^t^a^tⁱ^v^es^f^o^{r si}^x^y^ears.
⁴⁸^R^.^G^.^R^a^tc^lif^f^e^{, “}^L^aw^m^a^k^e^r^’^s^Tⁱ^{p a}^C^u^r^v^e^{to C}^lⁱⁿ^t^{on; B}^r^ook^s^R^e^c^o^m^m^e^nds^O^t^he^r^J^udg^e^f^o^r^P^o^s^t^,”^T^h^e^H^ous^t^on
^Ch^roⁿⁱ^cl^e,^No^v.¹⁸^,¹⁹⁹³^,^p.^A²^9.
⁴⁹^Iⁿ^J^aⁿ^u^a^r^y^1995,^how^e^v^e^r^{, unde}^r^a^ne^w^de^aⁿ^{, the}^s^t^a^t^e^’^s^D^e^m^o^c^r^a^t^ic^H^ous^e^Me^m^b^e^r^s^s^h^a^r^e^d^a^m^ong^the^m^s^e^l^v^e^s^the
^reco^mmen^dⁱⁿ^g^ro^l^e^—creatⁱⁿ^{g f}^o^u^r^p^aⁿ^e^l^s^,^f^o^{r each}^o^f^t^h^{e st}^at^{e’s f}^o^u^r^j^u^dⁱ^ci^al^dⁱ^st^ri^ct^s,^t^o^reco^mm^en^d^dⁱ^st^rⁱ^ct^co^u^r^t
^can^dⁱ^d^a^t^e^{s t}^o^t^h^e^P^r^esi^d^en^t^.^S^{ee S}^t^{eve M}^c^G^oⁿⁱ^gl^e,^“G^oⁿ^zal^{ez P}^a^rcel^{s Ou}^t^Resp^on^si^bⁱ^lⁱ^t^y^f^o^{r M}^a^kiⁿ^g^F^e^d^e^ral^Ju^dⁱ^ci^al
^Se^le^c^{tions; Re}^pre^s^eⁿ^ta^tiv^e^s^{to Re}^c^o^m^m^e^{nd Ca}^ndi^da^te^{s f}^o^{r the}ⁱ^{r Re}^gⁱ^ons,”^The^D^a^ll^as^M^o^rⁿⁱ^{ng N}^e^w^s^{, D}^e^c^.^18,¹⁹⁹⁴^,^p.
^10A^{; W}^illia^m^{E. Cla}^y^{ton Jr., “}^J^ur^{ist Nom}ⁱ^ne^e^s^T^o^Be^Pⁱ^c^k^e^d^{in Ne}^w^P^r^oc^e^{ss; T}^e^xa^{s Fe}^de^ra^{l Judg}^e^s^{hips A}^r^e^{First T}^e^st,
^The^H^o^us^to^{n C}^h^r^onic^l^e^,^J^aⁿ^.¹⁶^,¹⁹⁹^5,^{p. A}⁵^.
⁵⁰^Joⁿ^a^t^h^aⁿ^Riⁿ^g^el^,^“G^OP^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^rs^Read^y^t^o^Eⁿ^t^e^r^t^h^{e Jud}^g^{es G}^a^me,^”^Le^{gal Tim}^e^s^,^v^o^l.²⁴^{, J}^a^n.²²^{, 2}⁰⁰¹^{, p}^.⁶^.
⁵¹^Ibid^{., p. 8.}
⁵²^Of^co^u^r^se,ⁱ^f^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^rs^o^b^j^ect^e^d^t^o^{a can}^dⁱ^d^a^t^e^un^d^e^{r con}^sⁱ^d^eratⁱ^oⁿ^,^t^h^ei^{r vi}^ew^s^mⁱ^gh^t^o^f^t^eⁿ^b^e^exp^ect^ed^t^o^carry
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

^{... sen}^a^tors^w^h^o^w^e^{re n}^o^{t of}^th^e^presiden^t’^{s pa}^rt^yⁱⁿ^aⁿ^y^gⁱ^v^eⁿ^admⁱⁿⁱ^stration^pla^y^{ed little or}
ⁿ^o^r^o^{le in}^dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^{ct j}^u^d^g^{e se}^lec^tioⁿ^,^ex^cep^{t a}^s^p^e^r^m^ittedⁱⁿⁱⁿ^f^o^r^m^{al a}^g^r^e^e^m^eⁿ^ts^b^e^t^w^een
^se^na^t^o^r^s^aⁿ^d^aⁿ^{y gi}^ve^{n a}^d^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^r^a^tⁱ^o^{n o}^r^b^y^t^h^e^Seⁿ^a^t^e^Ju^di^ci^ary^C^o^m^mⁱ^t^t^ee^t^h^roug^h^t^h^e^bl^ue
^slip^{. Mo}^r^e^o^v^er^{, th}^{at r}^o^le^d^e^scrⁱ^b^e^d^ab^o^v^e^w^a^{s g}^eⁿ^e^r^a^ll^y^aⁿ^e^g^a^tiv^{e r}^o^{le: a sen}^a^to^r^w^h^o^w^a^s
ⁿ^o^{t of}^th^{e P}^r^es^iden^t’s^party^f^r^om^t^h^{e s}^t^{ate in}^w^h^ic^h^{a j}^u^dici^{al n}^o^mⁱⁿ^ee^w^o^u^l^{d s}^e^rv^{e cou}^l^d
^d^e^lay^o^r^p^r^ev^en^{t co}ⁿ^f^ir^m^a^tioⁿ^o^f^{a n}^o^mⁱⁿ^{ee b}^y^r^e^f^u^siⁿ^g^to^r^e^tu^rⁿ^th^e^b^l^u^e^s^lⁱ^p^,^b^u^t^t^h^e^s^eⁿ^a^t^o^r⁵³
^cou^l^{d n}^o^{t co}^m^p^{el th}^{e P}^r^es^{ident to ch}^oos^{e h}ⁱ^s^{or h}^e^{r can}^didat^e^s^.
The secondary role of Senators in judicial candidate selection in states where both are of the
opposition party was stated as formal Administration policy early in Ronald Reagan’s presidency.
In a March 1981 memorandum on judicial selection procedures, the Department of Justice
discussed, among other things, the procedure that would apply in states with no Republican
Senators. In these cases, the memorandum said:
^{... th}^{e Attorn}^e^y^Gen^e^ral^wⁱ^{ll s}^o^{licit s}^u^gg^es^tions^an^{d reco}^m^m^eⁿ^d^ation^s^f^r^o^m^t^h^e^R^e^pu^blicaⁿ
^m^e^m^b^er^{s o}^f^th^{e co}ⁿ^g^r^e^ssioⁿ^{al d}^e^leg^a^tioⁿ^,^w^h^o^w^{ill act i}ⁿ^su^c^hⁱⁿ^stan^c^e^s^a^s^a^g^r^o^u^p^,ⁱⁿ^lⁱ^e^u^o^f
^Sen^a^tors^f^r^o^m^t^h^{eir res}^p^ecti^v^e^s^t^ate^s^{. It}^is^pres^um^{ed t}^h^{at co}ⁿ^g^r^e^s^sⁱ^on^a^l^m^e^m^b^er^sⁱⁿ^s^u^c^h⁵⁴
^cas^es^w^o^u^l^{d cons}^u^l^t^wⁱ^t^h^De^m^o^{cratic Sen}^a^tors^f^r^o^m^t^h^{eir res}^p^ectiv^{e s}^t^ate^s^.
Sometimes, however, in states having two opposition party Senators, Presidents agree to a more
active form of senatorial involvement in judicial selection. In these cases, a more active role for a
state’s Senators might consist of actually serving as a primary source for judicial candidate
recommendations or selecting at least some of the members of an advisory panel or commission,
if one is established in cooperation with officials of the President’s party to make judicial
candidate recommendations.
In recent decades, various Presidents, in a limited number of situations, have allowed a state’s
Senators, when both were of the opposition party, an involvement in judicial candidate selection
entailing more than simply being consulted during the selection process. For example, in states
having two opposition party Senators, President John F. Kennedy, a scholar has written, was
sometimes inclined to select persons of the opposition party for judicial appointments. In these
situation:
^P^r^es^iden^{t Kenn}^ed^y^us^{ed R}^e^publican^Min^o^rit^y^L^{eader Ev}^{erett Dirk}^s^eⁿ^as^{a liai}^s^on^bet^w^eeⁿ
^th^{e W}^h^{ite Ho}^u^s^{e an}^d^Rep^u^b^lic^an^sen^a^to^r^s^{. Dir}^k^seⁿ^w^a^{s as}^k^e^d^to^so^{licit su}^g^g^e^s^ti^oⁿ^s^f^r^o^m^t^h^e
^s^eⁿ^a^t^o^rsⁱⁿ^t^h^os^{e s}^t^a^t^es^w^hⁱ^c^h^h^a^{d t}^w^o^R^e^pu^blⁱ^c^aⁿ^s^eⁿ^a^t^o^rs^,^t^h^ough^su^gg^estⁱ^oⁿ^s^o^fⁿ^a^m^e^s⁵⁵
^m^a^{de directl}^y^b^y^t^h^{e s}^eⁿ^a^tors^w^e^{re accorded equ}^a^{l treatm}^eⁿ^t^.

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^w^eⁱ^g^{ht w}^{ith the}^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^{tion, i}ⁿ^lig^ht^of^the^f^o^r^m^ida^b^le^op^pos^iti^{on t}^h^e^y^c^{ould m}^ount^a^g^aⁱ^ns^{t hom}^e^s^t^a^t^e^nom^ina^tions
^la^te^{r in t}^h^e^Se^na^te^Ju^dicⁱ^a^r^y^Co^m^m^itte^e^{or on the}^Se^na^te^f^l^oor.
⁵³^N^e^ff^,^Uⁿ^ite^{d St}^ate^s^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^J^u^d^g^e^N^o^mⁱ^na^tin^{g C}^o^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^ons^{, p. 20}^.
⁵⁴^“^D^e^p^a^r^tm^eⁿ^{t of}^J^u^s^tic^e^;^Me^m^o^r^a^ndum^on^J^u^dⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^Se^le^c^tion^P^r^oc^e^dur^e^s^,^3/2/¹⁹⁸¹^,”^Unⁱ^t^e^{d S}^t^a^t^{es L}^a^{w Week}^{, v}^o^{l. 4}⁹^,
^no.³⁷^{, 1}⁹⁸¹^,^p.²⁶⁰⁴^{. F}^o^r^aⁿ^othe^r^s^our^c^e^f^o^r^f^u^{ll te}^x^t^of^the^m^e^m^o^r^a^ndum^{, s}^e^e^“^T^he^A^ttorⁿ^e^y^G^e^ne^r^a^l’^s^Me^m^o^r^a^ndum
^{on J}^udicⁱ^a^l^Se^le^c^tⁱ^on^Pr^oc^e^d^ur^e^s^,”^J^udic^a^t^u^r^e^,^vo^l^.⁶⁴^,^A^p^rⁱ^l¹⁹⁸¹^,^p^.⁴²^8.
⁵⁵^Jo^{el B.}^G^r^o^ssman^,^Lawy^e^r^s^a^nd^J^udge^s^:^T^h^e^ABA^a^{nd t}^h^e^P^o^litic^s^{of J}^u^dicⁱ^a^l^Se^le^c^tioⁿ^(Ne^w^York^{: Joh}ⁿ^W^ile^y^a^nd
^Sons^,^Iⁿ^c^.^,¹⁹⁶⁵⁾^,^p.^30.

During the presidency of Gerald R. Ford, a Republican, Florida’s two Democratic Senators
increased their involvement in the selection of federal district judges in that state—through
establishment of a commission to recruit and evaluate judicial candidates. The nine-member
Federal Judicial Nominating Commission, which began operations in 1975, was created and
chartered by the state of Florida, at the impetus of the two Senators, in conjunction with the state
bar association. Under the charter, each of the three sponsors—the two Senators and the bar ⁵⁶
association—chose one commissioner from each of Florida’s three federal judicial districts.
After evaluating applicants, the commission was to recommend not fewer than five candidates per ⁵⁷
vacancy to the Senators, who would then recommend one candidate for each vacancy. In its first
year of operation, the commission recommended candidates for nomination for two district court
vacancies and one circuit court vacancy. President Ford and the Florida Senators cooperated to ⁵⁸
fill two of three vacancies with nominees selected from the commission’s candidates. In 1976,
the second year of the commission’s operation, and President Ford’s last full year in office, the ⁵⁹
President continued to accept and select his nominees from the commission’s candidates. The
Florida commission marked “the first time in more than 135 years” that Senators “who were not
in the President’s party played a substantial formal role at the stage before the official ⁶⁰
nominations of persons for district court judgeships.”
Other Senators of the opposition party also, on occasion, have successfully bargained for power
over judicial patronage. During the presidency of Richard M. Nixon, a Republican, California’s
two Democratic Senators, it was reported, reached an agreement with the Administration that
every third federal judgeship in that state would go to a judicial candidate suggested by the ⁶¹
Senators. More recently, in a number of states, the Administration of President William J.
Clinton, a Democrat, spent “considerable time,” according to one legal scholar, “treating ⁶²
Republican senators’ demands that they be involved” in judicial candidate selection. In a few of
these states, Republican Senators “insisted that they be permitted to participate in choosing the ⁶³
candidates and even that they [were] entitled to propose nominees.”
Most recently, the Republican Administration of President George W. Bush, in a few cases, has
accepted a formal role for a state’s two Democratic Senators in judicial candidate selection. In at

⁵⁶^T^h^{e co}^mmⁱ^ssi^oⁿ^ch^art^e^{r excl}^u^d^e^d^o^f^fⁱ^{cers o}^f^t^h^{e st}^at^{e’s p}^o^lⁱ^tⁱ^cal^partⁱ^e^{s f}^r^o^m^m^e^m^b^er^shⁱ^p^{as co}^mmi^ssi^oⁿ^e^rs.^T^hⁱ^s
^pr^ov^is^io^{n, a}^s^c^h^o^la^r^o^b^s^e^r^v^e^d^{, “}^c^ould^be^r^e^a^d^a^s^a^tte^m^p^ting^to^ous^t^Florⁱ^d^a^’^s^R^e^pu^blic^aⁿ^of^fⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^s^f^r^o^m^pa^r^tic^ipa^{tion i}ⁿ
^sel^ectⁱ^oⁿ^du^riⁿ^g^t^h^{e Rep}^u^b^lⁱ^can^a^d^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿⁱⁿ^o^f^fⁱ^c^e^at^t^h^at^tⁱ^m^e.^{” Ne}^f^f^,^Uⁿ^ite^{d State}^s^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^J^u^dge^N^o^mⁱ^na^tin^g
^Co^mmissioⁿ^s^{, p. 21}
⁵⁷^“Itⁱ^s^si^gnⁱ^fⁱ^can^t^,^{” Neff}^w^r^o^t^e,^“t^h^a^t^t^h^{e co}^m^mⁱ^ssi^oⁿ^rep^o^r^t^e^d^t^oⁱ^t^{s sp}^on^so^riⁿ^g^sen^a^t^o^{rs rat}^h^{er t}^h^an^di^rect^l^y^t^o^t^h^e
^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t.”^I^b^id.
⁵⁸^Ib^id^.,^p^.²³^.^Neff^dⁱ^dⁿ^o^{t i}^d^en^tif^y^w^h^ich^o^f^th^{e th}^{ree v}^acan^cies^w^a^sⁿ^o^t^f^illed^b^y^{a n}^o^mⁱⁿ^{ee reco}^mm^eⁿ^d^e^d^b^y^th^e
^co^mmⁱ^ssioⁿ^o^r^p^r^o^vⁱ^d^{e an}^y^d^e^{tails ex}^p^l^ainⁱⁿ^g^th^{e c}^o^mm^issioⁿ^’^{s n}^oⁿ^-ⁱⁿ^v^o^lv^em^en^{t in}^f^illin^g^th^{at v}^acan^cy^.
⁵⁹^Ibid^.,^pp.²³^-2^4.
⁶⁰^I^b^id^{., p. 24.}
⁶¹^Nina^T^o^te^nbe^rg^{, “}^W^{ill Judg}^e^s^Be^Choseⁿ^Ra^ti^ona^l^l^y^?^”^J^udic^a^tur^e^,^vo^l^.⁶⁰^,^A^u^g.^-^S^ep^t^.¹⁹⁷⁶^,^p.⁹⁵^.
⁶²^Carl^T^o^bⁱ^as,^“F^ed^eral^Judⁱ^ci^al^S^e^l^ectⁱ^oⁿⁱⁿ^{a T}ⁱ^m^e^o^f^Di^vi^d^e^d^G^o^v^e^rn^m^eⁿ^t^,^”^Em^or^y^Law^J^our^nal^{, v}^o^l.^47,^Sprⁱ^ng
¹⁹⁹^{8, p. 54}^3.
⁶³^Ibⁱ^d^.^P^r^o^vⁱ^dⁱⁿ^{g a si}^mⁱ^l^a^{r p}^e^rsp^ectⁱ^v^e,^{a f}^o^r^m^{er as}^si^st^an^t^a^ttorne^y^g^e^ne^ra^{l, in}^a²⁰⁰²^sy^m^posium^,^note^d^tha^t^{, in}^the
^Clⁱⁿ^t^oⁿ^A^d^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^,^“w^{e d}ⁱ^d^t^r^y^t^o^m^a^k^e^arran^g^e^m^en^t^s^an^d^acco^mm^o^d^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^wⁱ^t^h^Rep^u^b^lⁱ^can^seⁿ^a^t^o^rs.^It^b^ecam^{e a}
^mat^t^e^{r o}^fⁿ^ecessi^t^y^w^h^en^w^e^rea^c^h^ed^t^h^{e po}ⁱⁿ^tⁱⁿ^{a n}^u^m^b^e^{r o}^f^q^u^a^rt^{ers o}^f^t^h^{e co}^uⁿ^t^r^y^w^h^ere^w^e^w^e^r^e^l^o^o^kⁱⁿ^{g at}^st^at^es
^a^{nd c}ⁱ^r^c^uits^w^{ith l}^o^ts^of^R^e^public^aⁿ^s^e^na^tor^s^{, s}^o^m^e^of^w^h^o^m^a^b^s^o^lute^ly^r^e^f^u^s^e^{d to c}^onsⁱ^d^e^r^aⁿ^y^pe^r^s^on^put^f^o^r^w^a^r^{d b}^y
^P^r^esi^d^eⁿ^t^Clⁱⁿ^t^oⁿ^at^t^h^e^dⁱ^st^ri^ct^o^r^ci^rcuⁱ^t^cou^r^t^l^e^vel^.^{” E}^l^ean^o^r^D.^A^c^h^e^soⁿ^,^f^o^rm^{er assi}^st^an^t^at^t^o^rn^ey^gen^e^ral^,^Offⁱ^c^e^o^f
^Polic^y^De^ve^lopm^eⁿ^{t, quo}^te^{d i}ⁿ^“^S^e^l^e^c^ting^Fe^de^ra^{l Judg}^e^s^{: T}^h^e^Ro^le^a^{nd Re}^sp^onsi^b^ilitie^s^of^the^Ex^e^c^u^tiv^e^Braⁿ^c^h^,”
^J^udic^a^t^u^r^e^{, v}^o^l.⁸⁶^{, J}^u^ly^-^A^ug^{. 2002,}^p.¹⁷^.

least four instances, the Bush Administration reportedly reached understandings with opposition
party Senators to engage in a judicial selection process largely, if not entirely, reliant on candidate
recommendations made by judicial nominating commissions from the Senators’ states. These
understandings were reached when the states involved—California, Florida, Washington, and ⁶⁴
Wisconsin—were represented by two Democratic Senators.
In each of the aforementioned four states, the role of opposition party Senators in the selection
process has entailed more than simply being consulted about possible nominees. In each state, a
judicial nominating commission was established prior to, or during, the Bush presidency, to
evaluate the qualifications of judicial candidates and to make nominee recommendations—with
the Senators, in each case, responsible for selecting at least some of the commission’s members.
After a commission made its evaluations, its recommendations were forwarded to the Senators for
their review. (A commission’s recommendations, in some of the states, also were reviewed by
House Members of the President’s party.) In turn, the Senators were afforded the opportunity to ⁶⁵
indicate which candidates they preferred, before those names were forwarded to the President.
In another kind of arrangement for a state, officials of the President’s party would be the ones
recommending judicial candidates, but with the state’s opposition party Senators exercising a veto
power over any recommendations they found objectionable. Such an arrangement, for instance,
according to Illinois’s two Democratic Senators, has been in place in their state during the current ⁶⁶
Bush Administration.

⁶⁴^S^{ee S}^eⁿ^.^Di^ann^e^F^eⁱⁿ^st^eiⁿ^,^“S^eⁿ^at^o^r^{s Bo}^{xer an}^{d F}^eⁱⁿ^st^eiⁿ^Aⁿⁿ^o^uⁿ^{ce Bi}^p^a^rtⁱ^s^an^Ju^di^ci^al^No^mⁱⁿ^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^P^aⁿ^e^l^,^{” n}^e^w^s
^{release, M}^a^y²²^,²⁰⁰¹^{, accessed}^Feb^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^{, at}^h^t^t^p^://f^ein^s^tein^.seⁿ^ate.g^o^v^/^releases0¹^/ju^dⁱ^cial_ⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^atioⁿ^_^p^aⁿ^e^l.h^t^m^l;
^Se^{n. B}^o^{b G}^r^a^h^a^m^{, “W}^hite^H^ous^e^C^o^m^m^its^{to H}^onor^Fl^or^ida^N^o^mⁱ^na^ting^Sy^s^t^em^;^G^r^a^h^am^Say^s^J^udicⁱ^a^r^y^N^e^e^d^s^to
^M^aⁱⁿ^t^aⁱⁿ^Iⁿ^d^e^p^eⁿ^d^eⁿ^ce,^{” n}^e^w^s^re^l^ease,^M^a^rch¹²^,²⁰⁰³^(cop^y^a^v^ai^l^a^b^l^{e f}^r^o^m^au^t^h^o^r);^Kat^h^eriⁿ^e^P^f^l^e^ger,^“S^en^at^o^r^s,
^W^hⁱ^t^e^Ho^u^s^{e M}ⁱ^gh^t^{Be C}^l^o^s^{e t}^o^Reso^l^u^tⁱ^oⁿ^oⁿ^F^e^d^e^ral^Judⁱ^ci^al^N^o^mⁱⁿ^ee,^”^A^sso^ci^at^ed^P^r^ess,^M^a^rch¹⁸^,²⁰⁰²^,^accessed
^Fe^{b. 5}^,²⁰⁰⁸^{, a}^t^htt^p^://w^ww^.le^xⁱ^s^ne^xⁱ^s.c^o^m^;^“^M^urra^y^,^Ca^ntwe^{ll to}^Form^P^a^ne^l,”^The^Se^attle^Tⁱ^me^s^{, Ma}^rc^{h 19}^{, 2}⁰⁰²^,^p.
^B³^{; Se}ⁿ^.^H^e^r^b^K^ohl,^“^K^ohl^{, Fe}ⁱⁿ^g^o^{ld A}^nno^unc^e^A^c^tiv^a^{tion of}^Wⁱ^sc^onsⁱⁿ^Fe^de^r^a^{l N}^o^mⁱ^na^ting^C^o^m^mⁱ^ss^ion,”^ne^w^s
^r^e^le^a^s^e^,^J^une^25,²⁰⁰³⁽^c^o^p^y^av^a^ila^ble^f^r^om^a^u^thor⁾^;^aⁿ^d^Er^ic^J^.^Fr^o^m^m^e^r^,^“W^hite^H^ous^e^N^o^mⁱ^na^te^s^Wⁱ^s^c^ons^{in Sta}^t^e
^Ju^d^g^{e f}^o^{r Fed}^e^{ral Ju}^d^g^eshⁱ^p^,^{” A}^s^so^ciated^P^r^{ess, No}^v^.¹⁴^,²⁰⁰³^{, accessed}^Feb^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^{, at}^h^ttp^://w^ww^.le^x^isn^e^xⁱ^s.co^m^.
^A^s^o^f^Jan^u^a^r^y²⁰⁰⁵^,ⁱ^t^sho^u^l^d^b^eⁿ^o^t^ed,^F^l^o^rⁱ^d^{a ceased}^t^o^b^e^rep^r^es^en^t^e^d^b^y^t^w^o^o^p^p^o^sⁱ^tⁱ^oⁿ^p^a^rt^y^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^rs,^f^o^l^l^o^wⁱⁿ^g
^t^h^at^st^at^{e’s el}^ectⁱ^oⁿ^o^f^{a Rep}^u^b^lⁱ^c^an^t^o^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^eⁱⁿ^N^o^ve^m^b^{er 2}⁰⁰⁴^.^T^h^ereaf^t^e^r,^{as a resu}^l^t^,^t^h^{e p}^rⁱ^m^ar^y^ro^l^e^f^o^r
^sel^ectⁱⁿ^g^m^e^m^b^{ers o}^f^F^l^o^rⁱ^d^{a’s j}^u^dⁱ^ci^al^no^mⁱⁿ^a^tⁱⁿ^{g co}^mmⁱ^ssi^oⁿ^,^{as w}^e^l^l^as^f^o^{r revi}^e^wⁱⁿ^{g an}^d^f^o^rwar^dⁱⁿ^g^t^h^e
^c^o^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^on’^s^c^a^ndi^da^te^r^e^c^o^m^m^e^nda^ti^ons^t^o^t^h^e^W^h^ite^H^ous^e^,^w^a^s^a^s^s^u^m^e^{d by}^a^Se^na^tor^of^the^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t’^s^pa^r^t^y^.
⁶⁵^A^l^so^,ⁱⁿ^at^l^east^on^{e o}^f^t^h^{e st}^at^es,^Wⁱ^scoⁿ^sⁱⁿ^,^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^{rs ret}^aⁱⁿ^ed^t^h^{e p}^r^ero^g^atⁱ^v^{e t}^o^b^l^o^c^{k f}^r^o^m^b^eⁱⁿ^{g f}^o^rward^e^d^t^o
^t^h^e^P^r^esi^d^en^t^an^y^co^mmi^ssi^oⁿ^reco^mm^en^d^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^o^f^w^hⁱ^c^h^t^h^ey^mⁱ^gh^t^dⁱ^sapp^ro^ve.^S^{ee Davi}^d^Cal^l^eⁿ^d^e^r,^“S^y^k^{es Is 7}^th
^Circ^{uit Fi}^na^{list; B}^u^{sh t}^o^Ma^k^e^Pⁱ^c^k^f^o^{r A}^ppe^a^l^{s Court,”}^T^h^e^C^a^pit^a^{l Tim}^e^s^&^W^a^s^h^ing^t^on^St^ate^J^o^u^r^nal^,^A^u^g.^5,²⁰⁰³^,
^{p. 3A}^.
⁶⁶^In^recen^{t f}^l^o^o^r^rem^a^r^k^{s d}^u^rⁱⁿ^g^Seⁿ^a^{te co}ⁿ^s^id^erati^oⁿ^o^f^{a d}ⁱ^{strict co}^u^r^{t n}^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tioⁿ^,^oⁿ^{e o}^f^Illin^oⁱ^{s’s t}^w^o^De^m^o^cratic
^Se^na^tor^sⁿ^o^te^d^tha^t^t^h^eⁿ^o^mⁱ^ne^e^ha^{d be}^eⁿ^r^e^c^o^m^m^e^nde^{d by}^the^le^a^d^e^r^of^tha^t^s^t^a^t^e^’^s^R^e^publ^ic^aⁿ^H^o^us^e^de^le^g^a^tion,
^“wⁱ^t^h^t^h^{e u}ⁿ^d^e^rst^aⁿ^dⁱⁿ^g^h^e^f^aced^{a vet}^o^{” i}^f^ei^t^h^{er o}^f^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^rs^ob^j^ect^ed^.^S^e^n.^Ri^ch^{ard J.}^Du^r^bⁱⁿ^,^“^N^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^oⁿ^o^f
^Robe^{rt M}^.^Dow^,^{Jr., T}^o^Be^Un^ite^{d Sta}^t^e^s^Distric^t^Ju^dg^e^f^o^{r the}^No^rthe^{rn Distric}^t^of^Illin^ois,”^re^m^a^r^k^{s in t}^h^e^Se^na^te^,
^C^ongr^e^s^sⁱ^o^nal^Re^c^o^r^d^,^da^ily^e^d^iti^{on, v}^o^l^.¹⁵^{3, N}^o^v^.¹³^{, 2}⁰⁰⁷^,^p.^S¹⁴²³^{8. T}^h^e^s^t^a^t^e^’^s^ot^he^r^Se^na^t^o^r^s^t^a^t^e^d^tha^t^t^h^e
^nom^ina^tion^ha^d^“^c^onti^nue^d^the^bi^pa^rtisaⁿ^a^p^proa^c^h^t^o^f^illing^j^udg^e^s^{hips i}ⁿ^t^h^e^Fe^de^ra^{l d}ⁱ^stric^t^c^o^urts^—a^{n a}^ppr^oa^c^h^tha^t
^h^a^{s served}^Il^lⁱⁿ^oⁱ^{s w}^e^l^l^.^{” S}^eⁿ^.^{Barack Ob}^a^m^a,^“No^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^oⁿ^o^f^Ro^bert^M^.^Do^w^,^Jr.^,^T^o^{Be Uni}^t^e^d^S^t^at^{es Di}^st^ri^ct^Ju^d^g^e
^f^o^{r the}^Northe^rⁿ^Distric^t^of^I^llinoⁱ^s,”^re^m^a^{rks in the}^Se^na^te^,^C^o^ngr^e^s^sⁱ^onal^Re^c^o^r^d^,^da^ily^e^d^itio^{n, v}^o^l.¹⁵^{3, N}^o^v^.¹³^,
²⁰⁰^{7, p. S}¹⁴²^39.

Senators in general exert less influence over the selection of circuit court nominees than over
selection of district court nominees. Whereas home state Senators of the President’s party often, if
not always, dictate whom the President nominates to district judgeships, their recommendations
for circuit court nominees, by contrast, typically compete with names suggested to the
Administration by other sources or generated by the Administration on its own.
The lesser role for Senators, and the more independent role of the President, in the selection of
circuit court nominees is well established by custom. In a landmark 1953 study of the
appointment process, the President was said to have “a much freer hand in the selection of judges
of the circuit courts of appeal, whose districts cover several states, than of district judges, who ⁶⁷
serve within individual states.” In 1971, during the presidency of Richard M. Nixon, a scholar
wrote, “When it comes to making appointments to circuit courts, the balance of power shifts ⁶⁸
markedly [away from Senators] to favor decision-making by the President’s men.”
In a 1977 analysis, a former U.S. Senator observed that, while many Senators had the “power” to
select district court nominees from their states, “no single senator automatically controls” who is ⁶⁹
appointed to circuit judgeships. The Senator’s statement proved to be an understatement, for
during the years of Jimmy Carter’s presidency (1977-1980), his Administration relied almost
entirely upon a circuit judge nominating commission to identify candidates for circuit court
nominations. In so doing, the Administration largely excluded home state Senators of the
President’s party from the process of recommending persons for circuit judgeships. (The
Senators, however, were consulted for their views about the commission’s recommendations ⁷⁰
before President Carter actually selected a nominee.)
President Ronald Reagan disbanded the circuit judge nominating commission created by
President Carter, which restored for home state Senators a role in recommending circuit court ⁷¹
candidates. The role, however, was not a dominant one, for during the Reagan presidency, one
scholar has written, the process for selecting circuit nominees was marked by “tight ⁷²
administration control over the screening process.”

⁶⁷^Harris,^A^d^vi^{ce an}^d^C^oⁿ^s^en^t^{, p}^.³^14.
⁶⁸^Ch^ase,^Fe^de^r^a^{l J}^u^dge^s^{, p. 43}^.
⁶⁹^Ty^ding^s^,^“^M^e^r^{it Se}^le^c^tion,”^p.¹¹^3.
⁷⁰^S^{ee G}^o^l^d^m^aⁿ^,^Pic^kⁱ^{ng Fe}^de^r^a^l^J^udge^s^,^pp^.²³^8-24¹^.^G^o^l^d^m^aⁿ^rec^o^uⁿ^t^e^d^t^h^at^P^r^esi^d^eⁿ^t^Cart^{er creat}^ed^t^h^e
^c^o^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^{on thr}^oug^h^Ex^e^c^u^tiv^e^O^r^de^r¹¹⁹⁷^{2, a}^nd^tha^t^t^h^e^c^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^{on “}^c^o^ns^is^te^d^of^thir^te^eⁿ^e^l^e^v^eⁿ^-^m^em^be^r^pa^ne^ls
^a^ppoi^nte^d^by^the^pr^e^s^ideⁿ^t⁽^o^ne^f^o^r^each^j^u^dⁱ^ci^al^ci^rcuⁱ^t^,^wⁱ^t^h^t^h^{e e}^x^cep^tⁱ^oⁿ^o^f^t^h^e^l^a^{rge F}ⁱ^f^t^h^an^d^Niⁿ^t^h^ci^rc^uⁱ^t^s^w^hⁱ^c^h
^w^e^r^e^{split g}^e^og^ra^phic^a^lly^w^{ith e}^a^ste^r^{n a}^{nd w}^e^ste^r^{n Fif}^t^{h Circ}^uit^pa^ne^{ls a}^nd^nor^the^rⁿ^a^{nd s}^out^he^{rn Ni}^{nth C}ⁱ^rc^uit
^p^aⁿ^e^l^s^).^{” Ib}ⁱ^d^.^,^p^.²³⁸^.^S^{ee al}^so^W^.^Gar^y^F^o^w^l^er,^“Ju^dⁱ^ci^al^S^e^l^ectⁱ^oⁿ^uⁿ^d^e^{r Reagan}^an^d^Cart^er:^A^Co^m^p^ari^s^oⁿ^o^f^T^h^ei^r
^Initia^{l Re}^c^o^m^m^e^nda^tion^Proc^e^d^ur^e^s^,”^J^udic^a^tur^e^{, v}^o^l^.^67,^D^e^c^.^-^J^aⁿ^.198^4,^pp^{. 2}^67-²⁶^8.
⁷¹^Iⁿ^dis^b^aⁿ^ding^t^h^e^c^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^on,^Pr^e^s^ideⁿ^{t R}^e^a^g^aⁿ^“^o^r^d^e^r^e^d^a^r^e^turⁿ^{to t}^h^e^pr^e^-^C^a^r^t^e^r^m^e^thod^of^s^e^le^ction^,^w^ith
^s^e^na^tor^s^a^nd^ot^he^r^s^r^e^c^o^m^m^e^ndin^g^pe^ople^t^o^t^h^e^J^u^s^tic^e^D^e^pa^r^t^m^eⁿ^t^.”^She^l^do^{n G}^o^ldm^a^{n, “}^R^e^a^g^aⁿ^’^s^J^udicⁱ^a^l
^A^ppointm^e^nts^a^t^Mid-^T^e^r^m^{: Sha}^p^ing^the^B^e^nc^hⁱⁿ^Hⁱ^s^O^w^{n I}^m^a^g^e^,^”^J^udic^a^t^u^r^e^,^v^o^{l. 66}^,^Ma^r^c^{h 19}⁸³^,^{p. 34}^2.
⁷²^Go^l^d^maⁿ^,^Pⁱ^ckiⁿ^g^F^e^d^e^ra^l^Ju^dg^es,^p.²⁹^1.

At the start of the Clinton presidency, in 1993, a somewhat similar picture was portrayed of
Senators playing a subordinate role to the Administration when identifying candidates for circuit
court judgeships. In comparison with their role in recommending district court nominees, a report
found, Senators were said to “have less influence over the President’s selection of nominees to the

12 circuit courts”—with Senators free to “suggest [circuit] candidates to the White House,” but ⁷³

with the President “traditionally not bound by such suggestions.” At the end of the Clinton
presidency, an outgoing Department of Justice official noted that, while Senators usually “pretty
much decided” who was nominated for district court judgeships, the appellate court selections
were “primarily controlled, decided by the White House and the Justice Department, mostly the ⁷⁴
White House.... ”
Subsequently, in the presidency of George W. Bush (2001-present), the role of Senators in
recommending circuit court nominees continued, as a general rule, to be less significant than their
role in recommending district court nominees: The names of circuit nominees have tended “to be ⁷⁵
generated more by the Administration” than by Senators, with instances of Senators having ⁷⁶
President Bush select their candidates for circuit judgeships being exceptions to the rule.
Eleven of the 13 U.S. circuit courts of appeals,⁷⁷ it will be recalled, are geographically based
courts encompassing three or more states. In each of these circuit courts, many of the seats on the
bench have traditionally been linked to a particular state. “And historically, overwhelmingly,” one
scholar has observed, “the majority of replacement appointments for appeals court vacancies ⁷⁸
have, indeed, gone to judges from the state in which the vacancy arose.” Hence, each time one
of these judgeships is vacated, Senators of the state involved usually can be expected to cite the
tradition of the “state seat” and seek, through their own candidate recommendations, to preserve ⁷⁹
the judgeship for a nominee from their state. For their part, Presidents in recent decades usually,
but not always, have been inclined to make a circuit court appointment in keeping with the “state ⁸⁰
seat” tradition, by selecting a nominee from the same state as the vacating judge.

⁷³^A^llia^nc^e^f^o^{r Justic}^e^Judicⁱ^a^l^Se^le^c^tion^Proje^c^t^,^J^u^stic^e^{in t}^h^e^M^a^kⁱ^{ng: A}^Citizeⁿ^’s^H^aⁿ^d^b^ook^f^o^{r Ch}^oosin^{g Fe}^de^ral
^J^udge^s^(W^a^s^hing^to^{n: A}^llia^nc^e^f^o^{r Justic}^e^,¹⁹⁹³^),^p.^{9. (C}^opy^a^v^a^ila^ble^f^r^om^a^u^thor.)
⁷⁴^“^C^linto^{n N}^o^mⁱ^ne^e^K^e^{nt Ma}^r^k^us^:^J^udicⁱ^a^l^D^e^la^y^s^A^r^e^H^u^r^ting^the^C^oun^tr^y^,^”^na^tiona^ljo^ur^na^l^.^c^o^m^,^J^uⁿ^e^20,²⁰⁰¹^,
^“^I^ns^ide^r^Iⁿ^te^r^v^ie^w^,^”^a^c^c^e^s^s^e^{d on}^Fe^{b. 5}^,²⁰⁰⁸^{, a}^t^htt^p^://^na^tio^na^ljo^u^r^na^l.c^o^m^/^{. Ma}^r^k^us^{, w}^{ho ha}^d^s^e^r^v^{ed in}^the
^D^e^pa^r^t^m^e^{nt of}^J^u^s^tic^e^a^s^a^c^ouns^e^l^or^t^o^A^ttorⁿ^e^y^G^e^ne^r^a^{l J}^a^ne^{t R}^e^{no, w}^a^s^nom^ina^t^e^d^by^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t^C^l^into^{n t}^o^t^h^e^U^.^S.
^C^our^t^of^A^ppe^a^l^s^f^o^r^the^Six^t^{h C}ⁱ^r^c^{uit o}ⁿ^Fe^b.^9,²⁰^00.^Hⁱ^sⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^tion^,^h^o^w^e^v^e^r^,^r^e^ce^iv^e^d^{no a}^c^tion^{in t}^h^e^Se^na^te^aⁿ^d^th
^w^a^{s ret}^u^rn^ed^t^o^t^h^e^P^r^esi^d^en^t^on^Dec.¹⁵^,²⁰⁰⁰^,^at^t^h^{e en}^d^o^f^t^h^{e 10}⁶^C^ong^r^e^s^s^.
⁷⁵^G^o^l^d^m^aⁿ^et^al^.^,^“W^.^Bu^sh^Rem^a^kiⁿ^g^t^h^{e Ju}^dⁱ^ci^ary^,^{” p}^.²⁸^5.
⁷⁶^F^o^{r m}^eⁿ^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^o^f^{a f}^e^wⁱⁿ^st^an^{ces i}ⁿ^w^hⁱ^c^h^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^{rs su}^cceed^edⁱⁿ^h^a^viⁿ^g^P^r^esi^d^eⁿ^t^Bu^s^hⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^at^{e so}^meoⁿ^e
^r^e^c^o^m^m^e^nde^{d by}^the^m^{to c}ⁱ^r^c^uit^c^our^{t j}^udg^e^s^hips^{, s}^e^e^Mitc^he^{l A}^.^Solleⁿ^b^e^r^g^e^r^,^“^T^he^L^a^w^:^T^h^e^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t ‘}^S^ha^ll
^N^o^mⁱ^na^te^’^:^Ex^c^l^us^iv^e^or^Sha^r^e^d^C^ons^tit^uti^ona^l^Pow^e^r^?^,”^Pre^s^ideⁿ^tial^Stu^d^ie^{s Qu}^arte^rly^,^v^o^l.^36,^D^e^c^.²⁰^06,^p.⁷^25.
⁷⁷^A^s^dis^c^us^s^e^{d e}^a^r^lie^r^,^the^r^e^is^a^l^s^o^a^tw^e^l^f^t^{h g}^e^og^r^a^phic^a^l^l^y^ba^s^e^{d f}^e^de^r^a^{l c}^our^t^of^a^ppe^a^l^s^—^the^U^.^S^.^C^our^t^of^A^ppe^a^l^s
^f^o^r^the^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^of^C^o^l^u^m^b^ia^—^w^hic^h^{, lik}^e^the^othe^r¹¹^g^e^og^r^a^phic^a^lly^ba^s^e^{d c}ⁱ^r^c^{uit c}^our^ts^{, c}^onsⁱ^d^e^r^s^a^ppe^a^l^s^of^f^e^de^r^a^l
^t^rⁱ^a^l^co^u^r^t^{cases d}^eci^d^e^d^wⁱ^t^hⁱⁿ^t^h^{e ci}^rcuⁱ^t^.^A^t^hⁱ^r^t^een^t^h^f^e^d^e^ral^co^u^r^t^o^f^ap^p^eal^s,^t^h^{e U.}^S^.^C^o^u^r^t^o^f^A^p^p^eal^{s f}^o^{r t}^h^e
^Fe^de^ra^{l Circ}^uit,^{is he}^a^d^qua^rte^r^e^dⁱⁿ^W^a^shing^t^on^{, D.C.,}^b^u^t^uⁿ^lik^e^th^e^othe^r^{12 c}ⁱ^rc^u^{it c}^o^urts,^ha^{s na}^tio^nw^ide^jurisdic^ti^on
^de^fⁱ^ne^{d by}^s^ubje^c^t^m^a^tte^r^.
⁷⁸^Ellio^{t E.}^Slo^t^nic^k^{, “}^A^Historic^a^l^P^e^rspe^c^tiv^e^oⁿ^Fe^de^ra^{l Ju}^dicⁱ^a^l^S^e^le^c^tion,”^Judⁱ^ca^t^u^re,^v^o^l.^86,^J^u^l^y^-^A^u^g^{. 200}^2,^pp^.
^14-^15.
⁷⁹^T^h^{e Sen}^a^to^{rs m}ⁱ^g^h^{t p}^oⁱⁿ^t^t^o^o^t^h^e^{r co}ⁿ^s^id^erati^oⁿ^s^{as w}^e^ll^to^j^u^stify^f^illin^g^th^{e co}^u^r^t^v^acan^c^y^w^ith^{a rep}^r^esen^tativ^{e o}^f
^t^h^ei^{r st}^at^e.^T^h^ey^mⁱ^gh^t^,^f^o^{r i}ⁿ^st^ance,^ad^van^{ce t}^h^{e argu}^m^eⁿ^t^t^h^at^t^h^{e vari}^o^u^s^st^at^{es i}ⁿ^t^h^{e ci}^rcuⁱ^t^s^h^ou^l^d^b^e^p^r^o^p^o^r^tⁱ^oⁿ^a^l^l^y
^rep^r^esen^t^e^d^,^wⁱ^t^h^each^h^a^viⁿ^g^{a cert}^aⁱⁿ^mⁱⁿⁱ^malⁿ^u^m^b^e^{r o}^f^j^u^d^g^{es o}ⁿ^t^h^{e cou}^r^t^,^t^oⁱⁿ^su^{re ad}^e^q^u^a^t^e^re^p^r^esen^t^a^tⁱ^o^{n b}^a^sed
^oⁿ^each^st^at^{e’s po}^pu^l^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^o^r^t^h^e^p^r^op^o^r^tⁱ^oⁿ^o^f^t^h^{e cou}^r^t^’^{s o}^v^eral^l^c^a^sel^o^ad^o^rⁱ^gⁱⁿ^atⁱⁿ^{g f}^r^o^m^t^h^{e st}^at^e.
⁸⁰^A^C^R^S^r^e^por^{t u}^pda^te^{d o}ⁿ^Se^pt.⁴^,²⁰⁰⁷^{, f}^oun^{d t}^h^a^t^{, f}^r^om^the^pr^e^sⁱ^d^eⁿ^c^y^of^Ly^{ndon B}^.^J^o^hⁿ^s^oⁿ⁽¹⁹⁶^3-¹⁹⁶⁹⁾^to^the
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

While Presidents usually observe the traditions of state seats on the circuit courts, in most cases
they are not required to do so. A President will be required to select a resident from a particular
state for a circuit court vacancy only when necessary to assure that the court is represented by at ⁸¹
least one appointee from that state. In all other circumstances, a President is free to appoint a
resident from any state within the circuit to a judgeship, in spite of any historical association a
particular state might have with the judgeship. This latitude of the President, to select a circuit
court nominee from candidates in more than one state, prevents Senators from being able to assert
an absolute claim for their state over any circuit judgeship (unless the judgeship’s vacancy would
leave the Senators’ state without representation on the circuit). When a President selects a
different state to be represented by a circuit judgeship, he in effect gives the senatorial
prerogatives associated with the judgeship to a different pair of Senators.
While Senators usually are not the dominant or decisive players in the process of selecting circuit
court nominees, they, nonetheless, do enjoy certain prerogatives in the process. Once a judgeship
in a circuit becomes vacant, Senators in states falling within the circuit are free to suggest names
to the President’s Administration regarding possible nominees. If the Administration has indicated
which state it wants the judgeship to represent—whether in keeping with a traditional state seat or
in a break with that tradition—the Senators of that state, if they are of the President’s party,
customarily are among those who recommend candidates for the judgeship. Senators of the
President’s party, one authority has written, “expect judgeships on the federal courts of appeals ⁸²
going to persons from their states to be ‘cleared’ by them.... ” If the home state Senators are not
of the President’s party, they nonetheless have expectations—based on the Senate Judiciary
Committee’s long-standing blue slip policy—that they, too, will be consulted by the
Administration for their views about the prospective nominee.
Perhaps the most forceful input Senators can provide to a President’s Administration regarding
potential circuit court nominees is strong disapproval of a particular candidate from their state. If
the candidate is nominated in spite of their objections, the Senators, whether of the President’s
party or not, will have important Senate traditions in their favor if they decide to oppose the
nominee in the Senate. If they are of the President’s party, the Senators know (and the
Administration will know as well) that they have the tradition of senatorial courtesy to call upon.
As one scholar has noted, Senators can invoke senatorial courtesy effectively against a circuit
court nominations, provided they are of the President’s party and the nominee is a resident of ⁸³
their state. Hence, input from such Senators in forceful opposition to the candidate amounts to a
“negative recommendation” that the Administration should take very seriously, to avoid Senate
rejection of the candidate based on senatorial courtesy.

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^upda^te^of^tha^t^r^e^p^o^r^t^,^86%^of^a^p^p^o^intm^eⁿ^ts^{to t}^h^e^cⁱ^r^c^uit^c^our^ts^ha^d^be^eⁿ^ofⁿ^o^mⁱ^ne^e^s^w^{ho, a}^t^t^h^e^tim^e^of^theⁱ^r
^a^ppoi^ntm^e^{nt, w}^e^r^e^r^e^sⁱ^de^nts^of^the^s^a^m^e^s^t^a^t^e^as^the^v^acatⁱⁿ^{g j}^u^d^g^{es’ st}^at^{e o}^f^resi^d^eⁿ^{ce at}^t^h^{e t}ⁱ^m^{e o}^f^ap^p^oⁱⁿ^t^m^en^t^.^CRS
^R^e^por^{t R}^S²²⁵¹^0,^“St^a^te^Re^pre^s^eⁿ^tati^on^{” i}ⁿ^A^p^p^o^intmeⁿ^ts^to^Fe^de^r^a^{l C}^o^ur^ts^of^Ap^pe^als^,^by^R^.^Sa^m^G^a^r^r^e^{tt a}^{nd K}^e^vⁱⁿ
^{M. Sc}^ot^t.
⁸¹^A^f^e^d^e^ral^st^at^u^t^{e t}^h^at^h^a^{s b}^{een i}ⁿ^effect^siⁿ^{ce 1}⁹⁹⁷^p^r^o^vⁱ^d^{es t}^h^at^ever^y^st^at^e^m^u^st^b^e^rep^r^esen^t^e^d^b^y^at^l^east^oⁿ^e^j^u^d^g^e
^oⁿ^t^h^{e ci}^rcuⁱ^t^co^u^r^t^o^f^ap^p^eal^{s t}^h^a^t^geo^g^rap^hⁱ^cal^l^y^en^co^m^p^asse^{s i}^t^.^S^p^eci^fⁱ^cal^l^y^,ⁱ^t^p^r^o^vⁱ^d^{es t}^h^at^“[ⁱ^]^{n each}^ci^rcuⁱ^t^(o^t^h^er
^t^h^an^t^h^{e F}^e^d^e^ral^j^u^dⁱ^ci^al^ci^rcui^t⁾^t^h^{ere sh}^al^l^b^e^at^l^east^oⁿ^e^ci^rcuⁱ^t^j^u^d^g^{e i}ⁿ^regu^l^a^{r act}ⁱ^v^{e servi}^ce^ap^p^oⁱⁿ^t^e^d^f^r^o^m^t^h^e
^resi^d^eⁿ^t^{s o}^f^each^st^at^{e i}ⁿ^t^h^at^ci^rcuⁱ^t^.^”²⁸^U.^S^.^C.^§⁴⁴⁽^c);¹¹¹^S^t^at^.²⁴⁹³^;^P^.^L^.¹⁰⁵^-¹¹⁹^,^sec.³⁰⁷^.
⁸²^G^o^ldm^a^{n, in}^Eⁿ^cycl^o^p^e^dⁱ^{a o}^f^A^m^eri^c^aⁿ^Ju^dⁱ^ci^a^l^S^y^st^em^{, p.}⁵⁸⁹^.
⁸³^Ch^ase,^Fe^de^r^a^{l J}^u^dge^s^{, pp}^.⁴³^-4^4.

Senators who are not of the President’s party, by contrast, ordinarily would not be expected to
invoke senatorial courtesy to oppose a circuit court nominee from their state. They, however, can
take advantage of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s blue slip procedure to bolster their
opposition. In the event a candidate objectionable to them is nominated, the Senators, as
discussed above, may register their disapproval at the committee stage by declining to return a
blue slip or returning a negative blue slip to the Judiciary Committee. Such action by a home state
Senator, experience has shown, can jeopardize or doom a nomination, depending on the blue slip
policy of the committee’s chair.
During some chairmanships in recent decades, the policy of the Judiciary Committee has been to
allow, in some instances, committee consideration of a judicial nomination receiving a negative ⁸⁴
blue slip, or no blue slip, from one or both of the nominee’s home state Senators. When such a
policy is in effect, a Senator’s negative blue slip, or failure to return a positive blue slip, does not
foreclose the possibility of the committee reporting the nomination to the Senate. It, however, at
the very least, draws the committee’s attention to the concerns of the home state Senator and to
the question of what degree of courtesy the members of the committee owe that Senator’s
concerns.
A nomination is much more in jeopardy when the Judiciary Committee policy in effect is not to
consider any nomination for which a home state Senator has not returned a positive blue slip.
When such is the committee’s policy, a home state Senator’s opposition to a judicial nomination,
through use of the blue slip, eliminates any chance of its being reported out of committee (in
effect killing the nomination), unless the Senator can be persuaded to drop his or her opposition.
Accordingly, when both of a state’s Senators are of the opposition party and they object to a
circuit court candidate from their state, their opposition might persuade the President not to
nominate the candidate. In turn, the Senators also might succeed in influencing the President to
nominate another individual from their state who is more acceptable to them. However, a
President, if dissuaded from nominating the candidate objected to by the Senators, may then
consider nominating an individual from another state in the circuit. In the event the President
chooses this option, the Administration will no longer have to engage in consultation with the
same Senators regarding the vacant judgeship, because they would no longer be the nomination’s
home state Senators. The home state Senators, with whom the Administration would be expected ⁸⁵
to consult, would now be the Senators of the state of the new circuit court candidate.

⁸⁴^Se^e^C^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^L³²⁰¹³^,^T^h^e^Hi^st^o^r^{y o}^f^t^h^{e B}^l^u^e^S^lⁱ^pⁱⁿ^t^h^{e S}^e^na^t^e^Co^mmi^t^t^{ee on}^t^h^{e Ju}^di^ci^a^r^y,¹⁹¹⁷^-P^resen^t^{, p}^p^.
^13,²²^{; B}ⁱ^nde^r^,^“^W^he^r^e^D^o^Iⁿ^s^t^itu^tions^C^o^m^e^Fr^om^?^,^”^{p. 15,}^note⁵³^{; a}ⁿ^{d Se}^t^h^Ste^rⁿ^,^“^S^a^a^d^N^o^mⁱ^na^tⁱ^{on A}^d^v^a^nc^e^s
^De^spite^Se^na^te^‘Blue^S^lips,”^C^oⁿ^g^r^e^s^sⁱ^onal^Q^u^ar^te^r^l^y^W^eekl^y,^v^o^{l. 62,}^J^u^ne¹⁸^{, 2}⁰⁰⁴^,^p.¹⁴⁷⁹^.
⁸⁵^F^o^{r t}^h^e^P^r^esi^d^eⁿ^t^,^h^o^w^ever,^{a co}ⁿ^sⁱ^d^eratⁱ^oⁿ^agaiⁿ^s^t^no^mⁱⁿ^a^tⁱⁿ^{g someo}ⁿ^e^f^r^o^m^{a st}^at^{e o}^t^h^e^{r t}^h^aⁿ^t^h^a^t^o^f^t^h^{e vacat}ⁱⁿ^g
^ju^d^g^{e w}^{ill b}^e^th^{e l}ⁱ^k^e^lih^o^o^d^o^f^coⁿ^t^ro^v^e^rsy^arisin^g^o^v^{er th}^{e ch}^an^g^eⁱⁿ^{“state rep}^r^esen^tatioⁿ^.^{” In}^recen^{t ep}^iso^d^{es in}^t^h^e
^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^,ⁱⁿ^vo^l^vⁱⁿ^{g a ci}^rcuⁱ^t^cou^r^t^no^mⁱⁿ^ee^w^h^o^s^{e st}^at^{e o}^f^resi^d^eⁿ^{ce w}^a^{s d}ⁱ^ff^eren^t^f^r^o^m^t^h^at^o^f^t^h^{e vac}^a^tⁱⁿ^{g j}^u^d^g^{e (o}^r^,ⁱⁿ
^oⁿ^eⁱⁿ^st^an^ce,^dⁱ^f^f^e^ren^t^f^r^o^m^t^h^at^o^f^t^h^{e vacat}ⁱⁿ^{g j}^u^d^g^{e at}^t^h^{e t}ⁱ^m^{e t}^h^at^j^u^d^g^{e w}^a^{s n}^o^mⁱⁿ^at^ed^),^t^h^{e S}^e^nat^o^{rs rep}^r^esen^tⁱⁿ^g
^t^h^{e st}^at^{e o}^f^t^h^{e vacat}ⁱⁿ^{g j}^u^d^g^{e pub}^lⁱ^c^l^y^o^b^j^ect^ed^on^st^at^{e rep}^r^esen^t^a^tⁱ^o^{n gro}^uⁿ^d^s^,^aⁿ^d^t^h^{e no}^mⁱⁿ^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^f^aⁱ^l^e^d^t^o^b^e
^c^onf^ir^m^e^{d. Se}^e^“^B^a^c^k^g^r^ound”^s^e^c^tion^of^C^R^S^R^e^po^r^t^R^S²²⁵¹^0,^“^S^t^a^te^Re^pre^s^eⁿ^tatⁱ^oⁿ^{” i}ⁿ^A^p^p^o^intm^eⁿ^{ts to}^Fe^de^ral
^C^our^ts^o^f^A^ppe^als^.^S^{ee al}^so^S^p^{encer S}^.^Hsu^,^“S^en^at^o^r^{s Del}^a^y^V^o^t^e^oⁿ^V^a^.^Ben^c^h^No^mⁱⁿ^ee;^S^a^rb^an^es^,^Mⁱ^ku^l^s^ki^W^aⁿ^t^a
^M^d^.^A^p^poⁱⁿ^t^ee,^”^T^h^e^W^a^s^hⁱ^ngt^on^Pos^t^{, J}^u^ly^10,²⁰^04,^p.^B¹^;^Se^n.^Dⁱ^a^nne^Fe^ins^t^eⁱ^{n, “}^S^ta^te^m^e^{nt by}^Se^na^tor^Dⁱ^aⁿ^ne^th
^Fe^ins^t^eⁱⁿ^on^the^N^o^mⁱ^na^tioⁿ^of^R^a^ndy^S^m^{ith to}^the⁹^Cⁱ^r^c^ui^{t C}^o^ur^{t of}^A^ppe^a^l^s^,^”^ne^w^s^r^e^le^a^s^e^,^Ma^r^c^{h 1,}²⁰⁰⁶^,^th
^acces^sed^Feb^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^{, at}^h^t^t^p^://f^ein^s^tein^.sen^ate.g^o^v^/^{; “M}^o^s^{t Say}^Bo^{ise L}^a^wy^er^W^h^o^{Is Up}^f^o^{r Seat}^oⁿ⁹^Circuⁱ^t^Has
^L^ittle^Chaⁿ^c^e^of^Be^ing^A^pprov^e^d^by^De^m^o^c^r^a^tic^Cong^re^ss,”^The^I^d^aho^St^ate^s^m^aⁿ^,^Dec.¹³^,²⁰⁰⁶^,^accessed^Dec.¹³^,
²⁰⁰^{6, a}^t^htt^p^://w^ww^.ida^hosta^te^sm^aⁿ^.c^om^{. Se}^e^a^l^{so re}^m^a^rk^{s b}^y^Se^n.^P^a^tric^k^{J. L}^e^a^h^y^disc^ussing^the^f^a^ilure^of^a
^Vⁱ^rgiⁿⁱ^aⁿ^t^o^b^e^con^fⁱ^r^med^t^o^{a ci}^r^c^uⁱ^t^j^u^d^g^eshⁱ^p^vacat^ed^b^y^{a M}^a^r^y^l^aⁿ^d^e^{r an}^{d t}^h^{e s}^u^{ccess o}^f^an^Id^ah^oanⁱⁿ^b^eⁱⁿ^g
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

For a home state Senator, the process of selecting a lower court judicial candidate typically begins
when the Senator’s office learns that a judgeship is, or soon will become, vacant. A judicial
vacancy is created when a judicial officeholder vacates the office (for example, by retirement,
resignation, elevation to a higher court, or death) or when legislation is enacted creating a new
judgeship. Depending on the circumstances, a current or future judicial vacancy will be brought
to the attention of a home state Senator by the outgoing judge, by the Administration, or on the
initiative of the Senator’s office. The typical practice of circuit and district judges is to give notice ⁸⁶
of their planned retirements months in advance.
Sometimes Senators learn of an upcoming judicial vacancy when a circuit or district judge from
their state, as a courtesy, alerts the Senators beforehand of the judge’s intention to retire. White
House or Department of Justice officials responsible for advising the President on judicial
appointments also can be expected to notify a Senator’s office of a judicial vacancy in the
Senator’s state—particularly if the Senator is of the President’s party—and to invite the Senator
to make recommendations of candidates to fill the judgeship. In this initial contact, or soon
thereafter, the Administration might also inform the Senator of its preferences concerning
candidates and the selection process: These preferences, for example, might include the number
of recommendations the Senator is expected to submit, the qualification standards that the
Senator’s candidates must meet, and the time frame in which the Senator is expected to submit
recommendations to the Administration. Also, in this preliminary outreach to the Senator, the
Administration might discuss paperwork requirements, such as the background questionnaires
that eventually will have to be filled out by any candidate that the Senator selects.
A Senator, however, does not have to wait to hear from outgoing judges or the Administration to
be informed of current or upcoming judicial vacancies. On its own initiative, a Senator’s office ⁸⁷
can visit the federal judiciary’s Internet website to identify district and circuit court judgeships
which currently are vacant or are scheduled to be vacated in the future. Within the judiciary’s
website are hypertext links to several vacancy lists, including one of current court vacancies, and

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^coⁿ^fⁱ^r^med^t^o^{a ci}^rcuⁱ^t^j^u^d^g^eshⁱ^p^v^acat^ed^b^y^an^Id^ah^o^aⁿ^(f^o^l^l^o^wⁱⁿ^g^coⁿ^t^r^o^vers^y^,^h^o^w^ev^er,^o^v^{er h}ⁱ^{s earl}ⁱ^e^{r u}ⁿ^s^u^ccess^f^u^l
ⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^o^{n t}^o^{a ci}^rc^uⁱ^t^j^u^d^g^eshⁱ^p^w^hⁱ^c^h^Calⁱ^f^o^rⁿⁱ^{a’s S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^{rs m}^aⁱⁿ^t^aⁱⁿ^ed^w^a^{s a “Cal}ⁱ^f^o^rⁿⁱ^{a seat}^”).^S^p^eci^fⁱ^cal^l^y^,^se^e
^Se^{n. L}^e^a^h^y^’^s^r^e^m^a^r^k^s^{in “}^N^om^ination^of^Sa^ndr^a^Se^g^a^{l I}^k^uta^T^o^B^e^Uⁿ^ite^{d S}^t^a^t^e^s^Cⁱ^r^c^{uit J}^u^dg^e^f^o^r^th^e^Nⁱ^{nth C}ⁱ^r^c^uit,”
^C^ongr^e^s^sⁱ^o^nal^Re^c^o^r^d^,^da^ily^e^d^iti^{on, v}^o^l^.¹⁵^{2, J}^u^ne¹⁹^,²⁰⁰⁶^{, p}^p^.^S⁶⁰⁵^3-^S⁶⁰⁵⁴^,^aⁿ^dⁱⁿ^“^N^or^m^a^{n R}^a^ndy^Sm^{ith T}^o^B^e
^Unite^{d S}^t^a^t^e^s^Circ^{uit Ju}^dg^e^f^o^{r th}^e^{Ninth Ci}^rc^uit,”^C^o^ng^ressioⁿ^a^l^R^eco^rd^{, da}^ily^e^d^itio^{n, v}^o^l^.¹⁵³^,^Fe^b^.¹⁵^{, 2}⁰⁰⁷^,^p.^S
¹⁹⁸⁶^(each^st^at^em^en^t^dⁱ^scu^ssiⁿ^g^b^o^t^h^t^h^{e Vi}^rgiⁿⁱ^a^-M^ary^l^an^d^an^d^I^d^ah^o^-^Calⁱ^f^o^rⁿⁱ^{a c}^oⁿ^t^r^o^versi^e^s).
⁸⁶^Iⁿ^Ma^r^c^h²⁰⁰³^{, t}^h^e^f^e^de^r^a^{l judic}ⁱ^a^r^y^’^s^g^o^v^e^rⁿ^ing^body^{, the}^J^udicⁱ^a^l^C^onf^e^r^eⁿ^c^e^of^the^Uⁿ^ite^d^Sta^t^e^s^,^a^dopte^d^a
^c^o^m^m^itte^e^re^c^o^m^m^e^nda^{tion, i}ⁿ^w^h^ic^{h it}^“^s^trong^ly^urg^e^[^d^]^a^l^l^ju^dg^e^s^{to n}^o^tif^y^the^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t a}ⁿ^d^the^A^d^mⁱ^nistra^tiv^e
^Offⁱ^c^e^o^f^t^h^{e Un}ⁱ^t^e^d^S^t^at^{es Co}^u^r^t^s^{as f}^a^{r i}ⁿ^ad^van^{ce as p}^o^ssi^b^l^{e o}^f^{a ch}^an^{ge i}ⁿ^st^at^u^s^,^p^r^ef^erab^l^y¹²^moⁿ^t^h^s^b^e^f^o^{re t}^h^e
^c^onte^m^pla^t^e^d^da^te^of^c^h^aⁿ^g^e^{in s}^t^a^t^us^.”^P^r^ior^to^tha^t^,^r^e^tir^ing^j^udg^e^s^a^{nd t}^hos^e^ta^kⁱ^ng^s^eⁿⁱ^or^s^t^a^t^us^ha^{d be}^eⁿ^eⁿ^c^our^a^g^e^d
^b^y^t^h^{e Co}ⁿ^f^eren^{ce t}^o^p^r^o^vⁱ^d^{e “sub}^st^an^tⁱ^a^l⁽ⁱ^.^e^.^,^si^x-m^oⁿ^t^h^o^r^on^{e-year) ad}^van^{ce n}^o^tⁱ^{ce o}^f^t^h^at^actⁱ^oⁿ^.^{” U.}^S^.^Judⁱ^ci^al
^Coⁿ^f^eren^{ce o}^f^t^h^{e Un}ⁱ^t^e^d^S^t^at^es,^R^e^p^o^r^t^o^f^t^h^{e P}^r^o^ceedⁱⁿ^g^s^of^t^h^{e Ju}^dⁱ^ci^a^l^Con^f^eren^{ce o}^f^t^h^{e Un}ⁱ^t^e^{d S}^t^at^es^{, Ma}^r^c^h^18,
²⁰⁰³^,^p^p^{. 2}⁰^-2¹^,^accessed^Feb^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^,^at^h^t^t^p^://w^ww^.u^sco^u^r^ts.g^o^v^/ju^d^c^oⁿ^fⁱⁿ^d^e^x^.^h^t^m^l^.
⁸⁷^T^h^e^f^e^de^ra^{l judic}ⁱ^a^r^y^’^s^w^e^bsite^{is loc}^a^t^e^d^a^t^http^://w^ww^.usc^ourts.gov^/.

another of future court vacancies, both arranged by judicial circuit.⁸⁸ In both lists, a Senator or the
Senator’s staff will readily find, under the heading of the judicial circuit in which the Senator’s
state is located, any circuit judgeships, as well as any district judgeships within the Senator’s
state, which are currently vacant or are scheduled to be vacated at a specified future date.
Of course, a Senator is free, if he or she chooses, to initiate a judicial candidate selection process,
or to compile a list of prospective judicial candidates, before learning that a judgeship is vacant or
scheduled to become vacant. Some Senators, particularly those representing a state having many
lower federal court judgeships—where vacancies might be expected to occur periodically—might
find it advantageous to be ready at any time, with names of judicial candidates to recommend.
A key variable affecting the role of a Senator in selecting candidates for federal judgeships will be
the state’s other Senator. As discussed above, the extent to which the two Senators will share the
judicial selection role will depend, to a great extent, on their respective prerogatives and interests
in this area. One Senator might have more prerogatives to select judicial candidates than the
other, particularly if he or she is of the President’s party and the other is not. Further, if one
Senator has far more experience or expertise in selecting judicial candidates, the other Senator
might be inclined to defer to the more senior colleague in recommending persons to federal
judgeships. In addition, one Senator might be very interested in the judicial selection process,
while the other might, because of other priorities in the Senate, have less interest in this area. If
the prerogatives and interests of a state’s Senators in selecting judicial candidates are roughly
equal (e.g., they are both of the President’s party, have about the same amount of Senate seniority,
and are both interested in recommending judicial candidates to the President), sharing the
candidate selection role in some way seems almost inevitable.
Within this approach, the other Senator, if he or she wished, could be afforded the opportunity to
clear or review any candidate selections, prior to their being recommended to the Administration,
as well as to join the selecting Senator in formally recommending candidates. This option might
be suitable not only in various situations where only one home state Senator is of the President’s
party, but also where both Senators are of the President’s party yet only one wishes to be actively
involved in the judicial selection process.
This option could be taken by alternating the selection role, with the Senators taking turns
selecting a candidate each time a lower court vacancy arises in their state. A variation on this
approach would be for one Senator to select candidates for a majority of the judgeship vacancies

⁸⁸^W^ithⁱⁿ^t^h^{e w}^e^b^s^{ite, a list o}^f^cu^rren^t^dⁱ^{strict an}^d^circu^{it c}^o^u^r^t^v^acan^cⁱ^{es can}^b^e^accessed^{at h}^ttp^://w^ww.u^s^co^u^r^ts^.g^o^v^/
^j^u^dⁱ^ci^al^vac.^h^t^m^l^,^{as can}^{a l}ⁱ^s^t^o^f^fu^t^u^{re cou}^r^t^vacan^ci^{es (i}ⁿ^c^l^u^dⁱⁿ^g^,^f^o^{r each}^j^u^d^g^eshⁱ^pⁱⁿ^q^u^e^stⁱ^oⁿ^,^t^h^{e d}^a^t^e^t^h^at^t^h^e
^v^acan^c^y^w^{ill tak}^e^e^f^f^ect).

that occur and for the other Senator to select candidates for a minority (for example, for every
third or fourth judicial vacancy); this arrangement, as noted earlier, might be suitable in situations
where a Senator of the President’s party is willing to share the candidate recommending role with
a home state Senator of the other party. Also, Senators in states having more than one federal
judicial district could apportion between themselves the selection of judicial candidates according
to judicial district—for example, with candidates in one district selected by one Senator and
candidates in the second district selected by the other Senator.
This arrangement could consist of active involvement of both Senator’s offices in each phase, or
in most phases, of the candidate selection process, for example, announcing vacancies and
inviting candidates to apply, reviewing candidate applications, interviewing applicants, and
selecting one or more candidates to recommend to the Administration. Alternately, if the Senators
were too busy to involve themselves with each phase of the candidate selection process, and did
not wish to assign their personal office staff to selection process tasks, they could delegate much ⁸⁹
of the selection role to an outside screening committee, panel, or commission. In such a
delegated arrangement, the Senators might be most involved in the earliest and latest phases of
the selection process—in the beginning, when they would share in appointing members to the
screening panel, and at the end of the process, when they both would weigh the panel’s candidate
recomme ndations.
Senators might use a number of criteria to determine the fitness of persons from their state who
seek to be recommended for U.S. district or U.S. circuit court judgeships. Ordinarily, two sets of
criteria can be expected to be most important in governing the Senators’ choices—first, the
standards explicitly set by the Administration for judicial candidates, and second, the personal
criteria that the Senators themselves are inclined to use when deciding whether prospective
candidates merit recommendation to the President.
In recent decades, various Presidents have issued guidelines or made public statements regarding
the qualification standards that their judicial nominees must meet. Virtually every President has
emphasized the importance of a nominee meeting high professional standards and having the
ability to be impartial as a judge. At the same time, each President has underscored that judicial
nominees must conform with the basic values or ideals that the President believes are inherent in
the Constitution, as well as with the President’s views of what a judge’s fundamental role and
priorities should be in our nation’s constitutional system. Such perspectives on the Constitution
have tended to vary somewhat from one President to the next—with some Presidents, for
example, emphasizing the limited role of a judge in our constitutional system (i.e., whose role is
to “interpret” rather than to “make” the law) and others emphasizing the role of judges in
safeguarding constitutional and legal protections of citizens’ rights.

⁸⁹^T^h^e^c^u^r^r^e^{nt us}^e^by^s^o^m^e^Se^na^tor^s^of^outsⁱ^de^ju^dicⁱ^a^lⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^ting^c^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^ons^{to e}^v^a^l^ua^te^a^{nd r}^e^c^o^m^m^e^{nd jud}ⁱ^cⁱ^a^l
^c^a^ndida^te^{s is d}ⁱ^sc^usse^{d in}^m^o^re^de^ta^{il la}^te^{r in t}^h^{is re}^p^o^rt,^uⁿ^d^e^{r t}^h^e^h^eadⁱⁿ^{g “}^P^ro^cedu^r^{es Used}^T^o^Id^eⁿ^tⁱ^f^y^an^d^E^v^al^u^a^t^e
^C^a^ndida^te^s^.^”

Further, some Presidents also have set various representational standards or goals for Senators to
meet when selecting judicial candidates, endorsing, for instance, the goal of increasing the
representation of women and persons of minority ethnicity in the lower federal courts.
Elaboration of what qualities an administration looks for in judicial candidates also can come
from White House or Department of Justice officials who are involved in the judicial selection
process. A Senator seeking to select judicial candidates acceptable to the President will
necessarily want to take into account any qualification requirements expressed by the President or
other key Administration officials.
Senators also will have their own considerations or criteria to guide them in selecting judicial
candidates. Ideally, in nearly all cases, a fundamental starting requirement for a Senator engaged
in the search for judicial candidates will be that any person selected have the professional
qualifications, integrity, and judicial temperament needed to perform capably as a federal judge.
Forming a backdrop to each Senator’s search will be “the custom to appoint lawyers who have
distinguished themselves professionally—or at least not to appoint those obviously without ⁹⁰
merit.” Accordingly, in many cases, a judicial candidate will, as part of the Senator’s selection
process, be evaluated or rated by a local or state bar association or some other kind of informal or
formal panel of lawyers called upon specifically to evaluate the candidate’s professional
qualifications. A Senator should be mindful that, once he or she has recommended a judicial
candidate to the President, the candidate’s qualifications will be closely investigated by
Administration personnel involved in advising the President on whether the candidate should be
nominated. The nominee’s qualifications also will be exhaustively examined by the American Bar
Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, either in the selection process prior to ⁹¹
nomination or immediately after the nomination is made. Finally, the nomination will be
scrutinized yet again, by staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee, upon Senate receipt of the
nomination from the President.
Also, a Senator likely will be guided by at least some political party considerations in the judicial
candidate search. Traditionally, the overwhelming majority of all federal judicial nominees come
from the same party as the nominating President, with more than half of all federal judges having ⁹²
been “‘politically active’ before their appointments.” The tradition of selecting candidates
having the same party affiliation as the President is linked to political patronage concerns of
home state Senators of the President’s party. In this context, a home state Senator in some
instances might regard a judgeship recommendation, at least in part, as “a reward for major ⁹³
service” to the party, the President or the Senator. A scholarly study of the judicial appointment
process cites two reasons why most nominees for judicial office “must have some record of
political activity.... ”:

⁹⁰^R^obe^r^t^A^.^C^a^r^p^aⁿ^{d R}^ona^ld^Sti^d^h^a^m^,^Ju^dⁱ^ci^a^l^P^r^o^{cess i}ⁿ^A^m^eri^c^a^,^{3d e}^d^{. (}^W^a^s^hing^to^{n: C}^Q^P^r^e^s^s^,¹⁹⁹⁶⁾^,^p.²^40.
^(Herea^f^t^{er ci}^t^e^d^{as Carp}^an^d^S^tⁱ^d^ha^m^,^J^udicⁱ^al^Pr^oc^e^s^s^{) M}^e^ri^t^,^t^h^{e au}^t^h^o^r^{s co}^ntⁱⁿ^u^e^,^“m^a^y^meanⁿ^o^m^o^{re t}^h^{an an}
^a^s^s^o^cⁱ^a^{tion w}^{ith a}^pr^e^s^tig^io^us^la^w^fⁱ^r^m^{, public}^a^tⁱ^on^of^a^f^e^w^la^w^re^vⁱ^e^w^a^r^tic^le^{s, or re}^spe^c^t^a^m^ong^f^e^llow^a^ttorne^y^{s; a}
^poteⁿ^tia^{l ju}^dg^e^ne^e^d^not^ne^c^e^ssa^rily^be^aⁿ^outstaⁿ^ding^le^g^a^{l sc}^hola^r^{. Ne}^v^e^rthe^le^{ss, one}^of^the^uⁿ^w^r^itte^{n c}^ode^{s is t}^h^a^t^a
^judicⁱ^a^l^a^p^p^o^intm^eⁿ^{t is dif}^f^e^re^{nt from}^run-of^-the^-m^{ill pa}^tr^ona^g^e^,”^w^{ith tra}^d^itio^{n c}^r^e^a^ting^“^aⁿ^e^x^pe^c^t^a^{tion t}^h^a^t^t^h^e
^w^ould-^be^j^udg^e^ha^v^e^s^o^m^e^r^e^puta^tion^f^o^r^pr^of^e^s^sⁱ^ona^{l c}^o^m^p^e^t^eⁿ^c^e^.^”^I^b^id.^,^p^p^.²⁴^0-²⁴¹^.
⁹¹^F^o^r^d^e^t^aⁱ^l^e^dⁱⁿ^f^o^rm^atⁱ^oⁿ^oⁿ^t^h^e^pro^{cess b}^y^w^hⁱ^c^h^t^h^{e A}^B^A^co^mmⁱ^t^t^{ee i}ⁿ^vestⁱ^g^at^{es an}^d^eval^u^a^t^e^{s a j}^u^dⁱ^ci^al^no^mⁱⁿ^ee,
^s^e^e^,^{on t}^h^e^A^B^A^’^s^w^e^bs^ite^{, the}^ba^c^k^g^r^{ound b}^ook^le^{t e}ⁿ^title^d^Am^e^r^ic^{an B}^a^r^As^s^o^cⁱ^atioⁿ^Staⁿ^dⁱⁿ^g^C^o^m^m^itte^e^{on t}^h^e
^Fe^de^r^a^{l J}^u^dicⁱ^ar^y^:^W^h^a^t^I^t^I^s^an^d^H^o^w^I^t^W^o^r^k^{s, accessed}^Feb^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^{, at}^h^ttp^://w^ww^.^a^b^aⁿ^e^t.o^r^g^/^scfed^j^u^d^/.
⁹²^C^a^r^p^aⁿ^d^Sti^dha^m^,^J^udicⁱ^a^l^Pr^oc^e^s^s^,^p^.²⁴^1.
⁹³^Ibid^.

^Fir^s^{t, to}^so^m^e^d^e^g^r^{ee j}^u^d^g^e^s^hⁱ^p^s^ar^{e still co}ⁿ^s^id^er^ed^p^a^r^t^o^f^t^h^{e p}^o^{litical p}^a^tr^oⁿ^a^g^{e s}^y^s^t^e^m^;
^th^os^e^w^h^{o h}^a^v^e^s^e^rv^{ed t}^h^{e party}^are^m^o^{re lik}^e^l^y^{to be re}^w^a^{rded w}^ith^a^f^e^d^e^r^a^l^p^o^s^t^t^h^an^t^h^o^s^e
^w^h^o^h^a^v^eⁿ^o^{t p}^a^id^th^eir^d^u^es.^Secoⁿ^d^{, ev}^enⁱ^f^{a j}^u^d^g^es^hⁱ^p^isⁿ^o^{t g}ⁱ^v^eⁿ^a^s^{a d}ⁱ^r^{ect p}^o^litical
^p^a^y^o^ff^{, so}^m^e^p^o^{litical acti}^v^it^y^oⁿ^th^{e p}^a^{rt o}^f^a^w^o^u^l^d^-^b^e^j^u^d^g^{e is o}^f^tenⁿ^eces^sar^y^{, b}^ecau^se
^o^t^h^e^r^w^{ise t}^h^{e can}^dⁱ^d^a^te^w^o^u^l^d^si^m^p^l^yⁿ^o^{t b}^e^vⁱ^sib^l^{e to}^th^{e p}^r^esid^en^{t o}^r^sen^a^to^r^s⁽^s⁾^o^r^lo^cal
^p^a^r^t^y^l^e^a^d^e^r^{s w}^h^o^se^nd^fo^r^t^{h t}^h^e^na^me^s^o^f^c^a^nd^idates^{. I}^f^t^h^e^j^u^{dicial po}^w^e^{r brok}^ers^h^a^v^e
ⁿ^e^v^e^r^h^eard^o^f^{a p}^a^rtic^u^l^{ar la}^wy^{er b}^ecau^se^th^a^t^atto^rn^e^y^h^a^{s n}^o^p^o^{litical p}^r^o^f^ile,^hⁱ^{s o}^r^h^e^r⁹⁴
ⁿ^a^m^e^wⁱ^{ll n}^o^{t co}^m^e^to^mⁱⁿ^d^w^h^en^a^v^acan^c^y^occu^rs^on^t^h^{e b}^eⁿ^c^h^.
A Senator also may evaluate the suitability of a judicial candidate according to whether certain
groups or constituencies are adequately represented on the district or circuit court in question.
Among the representational considerations a Senator might take into account are a candidates’s
ethnicity, religion, gender, and place of residence. For instance, at the time a particular judicial
vacancy occurs, a Senator might be concerned with increasing the representation of a certain
ethnic group on that court, to make its membership more representative of the population of the
Senator’s state, or of that part of the state in which the judicial district is situated. Another
concern of the Senator, for example, might be to assure that membership in the district court or
courts in the Senator’s state represent all of the state’s geographic regions.
Senators, as well, may sometimes use philosophical or ideological criteria to evaluate judicial
candidates. In applying such criteria, a Senator might be concerned with what values—legal,
constitutional, political, social, economic, and philosophical—would underlie a candidate’s
reasoning and decision making as a judge, and whether, in light of these values, the candidate
would approach cases with impartiality or with prejudgment. A Senator also might be concerned
with gauging how the candidate ultimately might decide certain kinds of legal or constitutional
issues (especially any issues about which the Senator personally feels strongly), or in what
general direction the candidate might move a court if joined with judges of similar views.
Applying such criteria, a Senator might find a judicial candidate acceptable if his or her
orientation appeared sufficiently compatible with the Senator’s. The exact philosophical or
ideological criteria applied would vary among Senators, reflecting their individual views ⁹⁵
regarding the courts, the Constitution, and public policy.
Senators have great discretion as to the procedures they will follow in identifying and evaluating
candidates for appointment to federal judgeships. These may range over a wide spectrum of
options—from procedures that are extremely informal, unstructured, and totally dependent on a
Senator’s individual judgment, to those formalized, structured, and reliant on judgments of others
beside the Senator. A Senator, for instance, may view his or her role in selecting a judicial
candidate as essentially making a personal choice, with any input from others being informal in
nature and not in any way limiting the Senator’s involvement in the search for candidates. By
contrast, at the other end of the spectrum, a Senator may use a formally constituted advisory body

⁹⁴^I^b^id^{., p. 24}^2.
⁹⁵^In^recen^t^y^ears,^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^{rs h}^a^{ve ex}^p^r^essed^dⁱ^f^f^e^r^eⁿ^t^vi^{ews o}ⁿ^w^h^et^{her i}^tⁱ^s^ap^p^r^o^p^ri^at^{e t}^o^eval^u^a^t^e^j^udi^ci^alⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^{ees b}^y
^theⁱ^r^ide^o^log^y^{, judic}ⁱ^a^l^phil^o^s^o^ph^y^,^or^vⁱ^ew^s^{on s}^p^e^cⁱ^fⁱ^c^is^s^u^e^s^.^A^nota^b^leⁱⁿ^s^t^aⁿ^c^e^of^this^w^a^s^a^J^une^26,²⁰⁰¹^{, he}^a^rⁱⁿ^g
^he^ld^by^a^Se^na^te^J^udicⁱ^a^r^y^s^ubc^om^m^itte^e^{on the}^que^s^tⁱ^on,”^J^udicⁱ^a^l^N^o^mⁱ^na^tions²⁰^01:^Sh^oul^{d I}^d^e^o^l^ogy^Ma^tte^r^?^”^For
^t^h^{e co}^m^p^l^e^t^e^reco^rd^o^f^t^h^at^h^eari^ng,^{see U.}^S^.^Coⁿ^g^ress,^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^Co^m^mⁱ^t^t^{ee o}ⁿ^t^h^{e Ju}^di^ci^ary^,^S^u^b^c^o^m^mⁱ^t^t^{ee o}ⁿ^th
^A^d^mⁱ^nistra^tiv^e^Ove^r^sig^h^{t a}^{nd the}^Courts,^The^J^u^dicⁱ^a^l^N^o^mⁱ^nat^ioⁿ^and^C^o^nfir^m^a^ti^on^Pr^oc^e^s^s^{, he}^a^rⁱⁿ^g^s^{, 107}^Co^ng^.,^st
¹^s^e^s^s^{., J}^une^{26 a}ⁿ^d^Se^pt.^4,²⁰⁰¹⁽^W^a^s^hing^ton:^G^P^O^,²⁰⁰²⁾^,^p^p^.^1-¹^09.

of individuals, such as a nominating commission, not only to identify and evaluate judicial
candidates, but also to make recommendations that would be binding on the Senator or that the
Senator ordinarily would be expected to follow.
A Senator, as well, may take a procedural approach that falls somewhere between the two just
described or that has elements of each. For instance, a Senator may use the services of a formal
committee of expert advisers to identify and evaluate judicial candidates, but with the
understanding that the committee’s recommendations are advisory only, and not in any way ⁹⁶
binding on the Senator.
In a November 12, 2003, floor speech, a Senator illustrated, from his own experience, the
discretion and flexibility Senators have to tailor their own personal approach to judicial candidate ⁹⁷
selection. In the speech, made during an extended Senate debate on judicial nominations, the
Senator stated that, over the course of his Senate career, he saw himself as bearing the following
responsibility—that if “you are going to make [judicial] recommendations to the President of the ⁹⁸
United States, do so with care.” He described two somewhat different approaches that he had
taken during his tenure to identify candidates for lower court judgeships in his state. In the first 25
years of his Senate career, he noted,
^{I appoin}^t^{ed a n}^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tiⁿ^g^co^m^m^ittee^...^m^a^de^u^p^prin^cⁱ^pall^y^of^v^e^r^y^di^s^tⁱⁿ^gu^is^h^e^{d attor}ⁿ^e^y^s
^an^d^j^u^{dicial f}ⁱ^g^u^r^e^s^f^o^{r w}^h^o^m^I^h^a^d^res^p^ect^aⁿ^d^f^r^o^m^{all o}^v^er^m^y^s^t^{ate. I}^kn^e^w^th^e^s^{e people}
^com^m^aⁿ^d^{ed res}^p^{ect, a}ⁿ^{d t}^h^e^y^w^e^re^v^e^r^y^h^e^lpfu^l^{in iden}^tⁱ^fyⁱⁿ^g^,^eac^h^ti^m^e^{a j}^u^dicial^v^acaⁿ^c^y
^occu^{rred, s}^e^v^e^{ral n}^o^mⁱⁿ^ees^.
^W^ith^o^u^t^f^a^{il, I}^p^r^eseⁿ^ted^{all o}^f^th^eseⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^e^e^s^to^t^h^{e p}^r^esid^eⁿ^{t, an}^d^hⁱ^s^sta^f^f^si^f^t^ed^t^h^r^o^u^g^h
^th^e^m^aⁿ^{d i}ⁿ^eac^h^ca^s^e^ca^m^e^u^p^wⁱ^t^h^on^e^{of t}^h^eⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^ees^,^f^r^e^q^u^eⁿ^t^l^y^th^e^on^{e reco}^mm^eⁿ^ded⁹⁹
^fⁱ^r^s^{t b}^y^t^h^{e p}^aⁿ^e^l.
In 2002, however, upon learning that two U.S. district court judges in his state would be retiring, ¹⁰⁰
the Senator took a different approach to identifying judicial candidates. On this occasion, he
said, he wrote letters to the press throughout his state. In the letters, he outlined all the of the
qualifications he saw needed for a federal judge and invited “every well-qualified person to

⁹⁶^Se^na^te^fⁱ^na^nc^ia^{l m}^a^na^ge^m^e^{nt re}^gula^tio^{ns, it}^sho^u^l^d^be^note^d^{, a}ⁿ^tⁱ^cⁱ^pa^te^tha^t^som^e^Se^na^{tors w}^{ill use}^a^d^vⁱ^sory^pa^ne^ls
^or^g^r^ou^ps^to^a^s^sⁱ^s^t^the^m^{in s}^e^le^c^ting^judⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^c^a^ndi^da^te^s^.^T^h^e^r^e^g^u^la^tions^pr^ovⁱ^d^e^,ⁱⁿ^pa^r^t^,^tha^tⁱⁿ^dⁱ^vⁱ^d^u^a^l^s^“^w^{ho a}^r^e^not
^Se^na^te^e^m^plo^y^e^e^s^se^le^c^t^e^d^by^Sena^tor^s^t^o^s^e^r^v^e^{on a}^pa^ne^{l or}^ot^he^r^bo^dy^m^a^kⁱ^ng^r^e^c^o^m^m^e^nda^tions^f^o^rⁿ^o^mⁱ^ne^e^s^to
^F^e^d^e^ral^j^u^d^g^eshⁱ^p^s^,^servi^{ce acad}^e^mⁱ^e^s,^U.^S^.^A^t^t^o^rn^ey^{s o}^r^U.^S^.^M^a^r^s^h^a^l^s^m^a^{y b}^e^rei^m^b^u^r^sed^f^o^{r t}^r^an^s^p^o^r^t^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^,^p^e^r
^die^m^{, a}^{nd f}^o^r^c^e^r^ta^{in ot}^he^r^e^x^peⁿ^s^e^s^inc^u^r^r^e^{d i}ⁿ^pe^r^f^or^mⁱ^ng^dutie^s^a^s^a^m^e^m^b^e^r^of^s^u^c^h^pa^ne^{l or}^ot^h^e^r^body^.”^U^.^S.
^C^ong^r^e^s^s^,^Se^na^te^C^o^m^m^itte^e^on^R^u^le^s^a^{nd A}^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion,^Unⁱ^t^e^{d S}^t^at^{es S}^e^na^t^e^Ha^nd^bo^o^k⁽^W^a^s^hin^g^t^{on: U}ⁿ^ite^{d S}^t^a^t^e^s
^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^,^No^v.²⁰⁰⁶⁾^,^p^.^I^V^-⁴^3.
⁹⁷^T^h^{e sp}^eech^w^a^{s o}ⁿ^e^m^a^d^e^b^y^m^aⁿ^y^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^{rs d}^u^rⁱⁿ^{g 40}^ho^u^r^s^o^f^coⁿ^tⁱⁿ^u^o^u^s^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^d^e^b^a^t^e^coⁿ^cern^e^{d w}ⁱ^t^h^t^h^{e j}^u^dⁱ^ci^al
^a^ppoi^ntm^e^{nt pr}^oc^e^s^s^aⁿ^d^w^{ith w}^h^e^t^he^r^{to c}^l^os^e^de^ba^te^oⁿ^t^h^r^e^e^c^oⁿ^t^r^o^v^e^r^s^ia^{l c}ⁱ^r^c^{uit c}^our^{t n}^o^mⁱ^na^tio^ns^{. T}^h^e^de^ba^te^,
^w^h^ic^{h be}^g^a^{n in t}^h^e^e^v^eⁿ^ing^of^We^dne^s^d^a^y^{, N}^o^v^.^12,²⁰^03,^c^onc^l^u^d^e^{d on}^the^m^o^rⁿⁱⁿ^g^of^Fr^ida^y^{, N}^o^v^.¹⁴^{, 2}⁰⁰³^{, w}^h^eⁿ
^the^Se^na^te^v^o^te^d^a^g^aⁱ^{nst m}^o^tions^{to c}^l^ose^de^ba^te^oⁿ^the^cⁱ^rc^{uit c}^o^ur^{t nom}^ina^tio^{ns of}^P^r^isc^illa^Ric^h^m^a^{n Ow}^eⁿ^of^T^e^x^a^s,
^C^a^r^o^ly^{n B}^.^K^uhl^of^C^a^lif^or^nia^,^aⁿ^{d J}^a^nic^e^R^.^B^r^ow^{n, a}^l^s^o^of^C^a^lif^or^nia^.^F^o^r^t^h^e^eⁿ^tir^e^t^y^of^the^40-^ho^ur^de^ba^te^,^s^e^e
^C^ongr^e^s^sⁱ^o^nal^Re^c^o^r^d^,^da^ily^e^d^iti^{on, v}^o^l^.¹⁴^{9, N}^o^v^.¹²^{, 2}⁰⁰³^,^pp^{. S}¹⁴⁵²⁸^-^S¹⁴⁷⁸⁵^.
⁹⁸^S^eⁿ^.^Ri^c^h^ard^G^.^L^u^gar,^“E^xecu^tⁱ^{ve S}^e^ssi^oⁿ^,^{” rem}^a^r^k^{s i}ⁿ^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^e^,^Co^ng^ressioⁿ^a^{l Reco}^rd,^da^ily^e^d^ition^,^v^o^l.¹^49,
^N^o^v^.¹²^{, 2}⁰⁰³^,^p.^S¹⁴⁶^77.
⁹⁹^Ibid^.
¹⁰⁰^In^takⁱⁿ^g^th^{is d}ⁱ^f^f^e^ren^t^ap^p^r^o^ach^,^th^e^Sen^a^to^r^said^h^e^“ap^p^r^eciated^t^h^{at th}^o^s^{e v}^acan^{cies ... w}^e^re^g^oⁱⁿ^g^to^co^m^eⁱⁿ^t^o
^the^pa^rtic^u^l^a^r^m^ilie^{u a}^bout^w^h^ic^h^w^e^a^r^e^now^ta^lk^ing^,^”^i.e^{., a}ⁿ^a^t^m^o^s^phe^reⁱⁿ^the^Se^na^te^J^udicⁱ^a^r^y^Com^m^itte^e^of
^he^ig^hteⁿ^e^d^c^o^nf^lic^{t ov}^e^r^judⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^nom^ina^tions^.^I^bⁱ^d^.

apply.” Over the course of four months, “15 serious candidates emerged.” After reading all of
their applications, he interviewed five of the candidates—with a principal interest in their
professional skills, as well as in their “characterization of how they would fulfill their
responsibilities.” From the five interviewed candidates, the Senator submitted three names to the
White House, and two of those persons were nominated by the President (and subsequently ¹⁰¹
confirmed by the Senate).
As mentioned above, another option for Senators is to delegate all or some of their power to
evaluate and recommend candidates for federal judgeships to judicial nominating commissions
(sometimes also referred to as “merit commissions”). Such commissions are ordinarily created by
Senators for the specifically stated purpose of identifying and recommending highly qualified ¹⁰²
persons for federal judicial appointment. While the structure and operations of nominating
commissions vary, most have the following features in common:
• They have been formally, and publicly, constituted by one or both of their state’s
Senators (or by predecessor Senators of their state).
• They have a specific number of members, who have been publicly identified.
• Each commission has a clearly defined mission.
• Each publishes notices of judicial vacancies and invites applicants.
• The applicants fill out a standard application form or questionnaire and are
evaluated according to procedures that are the same for each application.
• Applications must be submitted, and the commission’s evaluation of applications
completed, by specified deadlines.
• The commission recommends not one but several candidates for a judicial
position (forwarding the names either to the home state Senators or directly to the
President).
• Typically, commission memberships include prominent attorneys in the state or
local bar, and sometimes leaders of other community groups, and they often, if ¹⁰³
not always, represent both political parties.

¹⁰¹^Ibid^.
¹⁰²^Forⁱⁿ^s^t^aⁿ^c^e^,ⁱⁿ^aⁿ^no^uncⁱⁿ^g^the^c^r^e^a^tion^of^s^u^c^h^a^c^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^{on in}²⁰⁰¹^{, a}^Se^na^t^o^r^de^c^l^a^r^e^d^{, “}^I^{t is}^m^y^hope^tha^t^t^h^is
^C^o^m^m^itte^e^ca^{n br}^ing^f^o^r^w^a^r^{d the}^be^s^t^a^{nd m}^o^s^t^q^u^a^lif^ie^{d c}^a^ndida^te^s^f^o^r^the^f^e^de^r^a^{l be}^nc^{h a}ⁿ^d^pr^ov^id^e^a^bipa^r^tis^aⁿ
^b^a^l^aⁿ^{ce t}^h^at^can^l^{ead t}^o^s^p^eed^y^ap^p^r^o^v^al^b^y^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^e^.^”^S^e^n.^Di^an^{ne F}^eⁱⁿ^st^eiⁿ^,^“S^eⁿ^at^o^r^{s B}^o^{xer an}^d^F^eⁱⁿ^st^eiⁿ
^A^nnounc^e^Bⁱ^pa^r^tis^aⁿ^J^u^dicⁱ^a^l^N^o^mⁱ^na^tion^P^a^ne^l,”^ne^w^s^r^e^le^as^e^,^May^{22, 2}⁰⁰¹^,^accessed^Dec.³^,²⁰⁰⁷^,^at
^http:^//f^eⁱ^ns^te^in.s^eⁿ^a^t^e^.^g^o^v^/^r^e^le^a^s^es^01/^judicⁱ^a^l^_n^om^ina^tion_^pa^ne^l.^ht^m^l^.
¹⁰³^For^t^hum^bna^il^de^s^c^rⁱ^pti^ons^of^the^s^t^r^u^c^t^ur^e^aⁿ^d^ope^r^a^tio^ns^ofⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^ting^c^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^ons^c^u^r^r^e^ntly^us^e^dⁱⁿ^the^f^e^de^r^a^l
^judicⁱ^a^l^se^le^c^tio^{n pr}^oc^e^{ss in c}^e^r^taⁱⁿ^sta^t^e^s^{, se}^e^h^ttp^://w^ww^.judicⁱ^a^l^se^le^c^tion.^us/^f^e^d^e^r^a^l^_judicⁱ^a^l^_se^l^e^c^tⁱ^on/
^f^e^d^e^ral^_^j^u^dⁱ^ci^al^_ⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱⁿ^g_^co^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^oⁿ^s^.^c^fm^?st^a^t^e=F^Dse^e^,^acce^s^s^ed^F^e^b^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^.^F^o^{r co}^m^p^reh^eⁿ^sⁱ^v^{e st}^at^e-b^y^-st^a^t^e
^inf^o^r^m^a^{tion on}^the^s^t^r^u^c^t^ur^e^aⁿ^{d o}^p^e^r^a^tions^of^nom^ina^ting^c^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^ons^us^e^d^by^U^.^{S. Se}^na^t^o^r^sⁱⁿ^the^l^o^w^e^r^c^our^t
^sel^ectⁱ^oⁿ^p^r^o^{cess d}^u^rⁱⁿ^{g t}^h^{e presi}^d^en^cy^o^f^Ji^{mmy Cart}^er,^se^{e Ne}^ff^,^Uⁿ^ite^d^State^s^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^J^u^dge^N^o^mⁱ^natiⁿ^g
^Co^mmissioⁿ^s^.
^A^s^{ound r}^a^ti^ona^le^f^o^rⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^ting^c^o^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^ons^{, a}^r^ecen^t^st^ud^y^coⁿ^c^l^u^d^e^d,ⁱ^s^t^h^at^t^h^ey^“^can^b^e^f^o^ru^m^s^o^f^gen^uⁱⁿ^e^,
^c^onstruc^tiv^e^c^ons^ulta^ti^{on i}ⁿ^t^h^eⁱⁿ^itia^{l p}^h^a^s^e^of^nom^ine^e^se^l^e^c^tion”^a^{nd he}^l^p^Se^na^{tors a}ⁿ^{d t}^h^e^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t “}^s^traⁱⁿ^out
^f^r^ing^e^c^a^ndida^te^{s w}^ith^m^o^re^politⁱ^c^a^l^c^l^{out t}^h^aⁿ^poteⁿ^tia^{l j}^udicⁱ^a^l^a^b^ility^.”^Russe^{ll W}^h^e^e^l^e^r^{, “}^P^re^v^e^{nt Fe}^de^ra^{l Court}
^Nomⁱ^na^{tion Ba}^ttle^{s: De}^-Esc^a^l^a^tin^g^the^Conf^lic^{t ov}^e^r^the^J^udi^cⁱ^a^r^y^,^”^Brook^ing^s^Inst^itutⁱ^oⁿ^Positioⁿ^P^a^pe^{r, Nov}^.^20,
²⁰⁰⁷^,^p^.¹²^{, accessed}^Feb^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^{, at}^h^ttp^://w^ww^.b^ro^o^kⁱⁿ^g^s^.ed^u^/^{. Herea}^f^{ter cited}^{as W}^h^eel^{er, “P}^rev^eⁿ^t^Fed^e^{ral Co}^u^r^t
^Nomⁱ^na^{tion Ba}^ttle^s.”⁾

• The advent of widespread use of nominating commissions to identify candidates
for federal judgeships came with the presidency of Jimmy Carter, who, at the
start of his Administration in 1977, urged every Democratic senator to establish a ¹⁰⁴
commission for the selection of candidates for U.S. district judge positions. By

1980, the last full year of the Carter presidency, senatorial commissions were ¹⁰⁵

operating in 31 states.
• Although President Reagan in 1981 disbanded the commission created by ¹⁰⁶
President Carter to identify circuit court candidates, his Attorney General
urged Republican Senators to use commissions (as Democratic Senators had
done during the previous four years) to screen candidates for district court ¹⁰⁷
judgeships. While senatorial use of nominating commissions is no longer
widespread, a Brookings Institution study in November 2007 reported that
“[t]oday, 16 senators in eight states use them; in five both senators are
Democrats.” The study found that most of the present-day commissions had
bipartisan memberships, a circumstance attributed to political necessity:
^Bⁱ^p^a^r^tⁱ^s^aⁿ^c^o^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^oⁿ^m^e^m^b^e^r^s^hⁱ^pⁱ^s^e^s^s^eⁿ^tⁱ^a^lⁱⁿ^t^hⁱ^s^p^e^rⁱ^o^d^o^f^p^o^larⁱ^zed^p^o^{litics, w}ⁱ^t^h^b^o^t^h
^m^a^j^o^r^ity^aⁿ^d^mⁱⁿ^o^rⁱ^t^y^seⁿ^a^to^r^s^r^ead^y^aⁿ^d^ab^{le to}^coⁿ^t^{est n}^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tioⁿ^s^{. Realizi}ⁿ^g^thⁱ^s^{, th}^e
^D^e^m^o^c^r^a^tⁱ^c^se^na^t^o^r^s^w^h^o^use^c^o^mmi^ssi^oⁿ^s^t^oda^y^appoiⁿ^t^s^o^m^e^R^e^pu^blⁱ^can^m^e^m^b^ers^,ⁿ^a^m^e^d
^eith^{er b}^y^th^e^m^s^e^lv^e^s^{or by}^s^t^at^{e R}^e^pu^blican^l^eaders^,^sⁱ^m^{ilar to w}^h^at^R^e^pu^blican^s^eⁿ^a^tor^s^dⁱ^d¹⁰⁸
^du^ri^ng^t^h^e^C^a^rt^{er ad}^mⁱⁿⁱ^s^t^ratⁱ^on^.
Senators who use nominating commissions to identify and evaluate judicial candidates often, if
not always, require their commissions to follow clearly defined rules of procedure. In Wisconsin,
where its two Democratic Senators have chartered a commission to advise them in the selection
of candidates to fill U.S. district court vacancies in that state—as well as for vacancies for U.S.
attorneys in Wisconsin and U.S. circuit court judgeships “which are appropriately considered
Wisconsin seats”—the charter lays out the rules of procedure in detail. The charter provides that
the commission shall consist of 11 members in the case of district court and U.S. attorney
vacancies, or 12 members in the case of a circuit court vacancy. The number of members that
each Senator may appoint to the commission varies, depending on whether the Senator is of the ¹⁰⁹
same political party as the President. When a court vacancy occurs, the charter provides

¹⁰⁴^Go^l^d^maⁿ^,^Pⁱ^ckiⁿ^g^F^e^d^e^ra^l^Ju^dg^es^{, p.}²⁴^4,^obs^e^r^vⁱ^ng^tha^t^be^f^o^r^e¹⁹⁷⁷^Se^na^tor^s^“^f^r^o^m^only^t^w^{o s}^t^a^t^e^s⁽^F^lorⁱ^daⁱⁿ
¹⁹⁷^{4 a}ⁿ^{d K}^e^nt^uc^k^y^{in 197}⁶⁾^ha^d^c^o^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^ons^.”
¹⁰⁵^Ibid^.
¹⁰⁶^I^b^id^{., p. 29}^0.
¹⁰⁷^A^Ma^rc^{h 198}^{1 D}^e^pa^rtm^e^{nt of}^J^u^s^tic^e^m^e^m^o^ra^ndum^b^y^A^ttorney^G^e^ne^r^a^{l W}^illiam^Freⁿ^c^h^Sm^{ith e}ⁿ^c^oura^g^e^d
^Se^na^tors^t^o^u^tiliz^e^“^s^c^r^e^eⁿ^ing^m^e^c^h^aⁿ^is^m^s^”^—^w^h^ic^{h it s}^a^{id inc}^l^ude^{d “}^a^d^vⁱ^s^o^ry^g^r^oups^{or c}^o^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^oⁿ^s^”^{—to “}^eⁿ^s^u^re
^tha^t^hig^h^l^y^qua^lif^ie^{d c}^a^ndida^te^s^a^r^e^r^e^c^o^m^m^e^nde^d.”^“^D^e^p^a^r^tm^eⁿ^{t of}^J^u^s^tic^e^;^Me^m^o^r^a^ndum^{on J}^u^dicⁱ^a^l^Se^le^c^tion
^P^r^oc^e^dur^e^s^{, 3/2}^/¹⁹⁸¹^,”^Unⁱ^t^e^d^St^a^t^{es L}^a^{w Week}^{, v}^o^l.^49,ⁿ^o^.^37,¹⁹⁸¹^{, p}^.²⁶⁰⁴^.^Se^e^a^l^s^o^St^ua^{rt T}^a^y^l^{or J}^r^{., “}^S^m^ith
^Issu^{es Ru}^{les f}^o^{r Na}^mⁱⁿ^g^Ju^d^g^es,^”^Th^{e New Y}^o^{rk Times}^{, Ma}^r^c^h^7,¹⁹⁸¹^{, s}^e^c^.^1,^p.¹¹^.
¹⁰⁸^W^h^e^e^l^e^r^{, “}^P^re^v^e^{nt Fe}^de^ra^{l Co}^urt^Nomⁱ^na^{tion Ba}^ttle^s,”^pp.¹³^-1^4.
¹⁰⁹^W^h^eⁿ^bo^th^Se^na^tors^a^r^e^of^the^s^a^m^e^politic^a^l^pa^rty^a^s^the^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t^,^f^{our m}^e^m^b^e^r^s^a^r^e^a^ppoi^nte^d^by^each^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^r;
^w^h^eⁿ^one^Se^na^t^o^r^is^of^the^s^a^m^e^polit^ic^a^l^pa^r^t^y^a^s^the^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t, f}ⁱ^v^e^m^e^m^b^e^r^s^a^r^e^a^ppointe^d^by^tha^t^Se^na^tor^,^w^{ith thr}^e^e
^m^e^m^b^e^r^s^a^ppointe^d^by^the^ot^he^r^Se^na^tor^;^aⁿ^{d w}^h^eⁿ^bot^{h Se}^na^t^o^r^s^a^r^e^of^the^op^pos^ite^poli^tic^a^l^pa^r^t^y^a^s^the^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t,
^tw^o^m^e^m^b^e^r^s^a^r^e^a^ppoi^nte^d^by^e^a^c^h^s^e^na^tor^,^w^{ith f}^our^m^e^m^b^e^r^s^o^f^the^c^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^{on a}^p^p^o^inte^{d “}^b^y^the^m^o^s^t^s^e^nior
^e^l^e^c^t^e^d^of^fⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^of^the^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t’^s^pa^r^t^y^.^”^Iⁿ^a^{ll thr}^e^e^s^itua^tⁱ^ons^j^u^s^t^note^d^{, tw}^{o m}^o^r^e^m^e^m^b^e^r^s^a^r^e^a^ppointe^d^by^the^s^t^a^t^e
^ba^r^of^Wⁱ^s^c^ons^{in. I}ⁿ^t^h^e^c^a^s^e^of^dis^t^rⁱ^c^t^ju^dg^e^or^U^.^S.^a^ttorⁿ^e^y^a^ppointm^e^nts^,^the^e^l^e^v^eⁿ^{th m}^e^m^b^e^r^of^the^c^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^{on is}
^a^ppoi^nte^d^by^the^de^aⁿ^of^the^Uⁿ^iv^e^r^sⁱ^t^y^of^Wⁱ^sc^ons^{in L}^a^w^Sc^hool,^or^the^de^aⁿ^’^s^de^sⁱ^gⁿ^e^e^,^f^o^r^c^onsⁱ^d^e^r^a^tion^of
^vacan^ci^{es i}ⁿ^t^h^{e W}^e^st^ern^Di^st^ri^ct^o^f^Wⁱ^scoⁿ^sⁱⁿ^,^o^r^b^y^t^h^{e d}^ean^o^f^t^h^{e M}^a^rq^u^e^t^t^e^Unⁱ^v^ersi^t^y^L^a^w^S^c^h^o^o^l^,^o^r^t^h^{e d}^ean^’s
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

specific timetables for seeking candidates and accepting applications, as well as for evaluating the
candidates’ qualifications. Further, the charter sets organizational and voting procedures for the
commission’s members, including a quorum requirement and the number of affirmative votes
required to recommend a candidate for nomination. Finally, it states that after the commission has
designated not less than four nor more than six individuals as best qualified to fill a vacancy, the ¹¹⁰
commission shall immediately notify the state’s Senators as to the names of the individuals.
In the above example, use of a nominating commission can be seen as largely removing Senators
from the initial search for judicial candidates as well as from the evaluation of all of the
candidates who initially submit applications. The arrangement, however, retains for the Senators
the opportunity to evaluate the smaller number of applicants who ultimately are recommended by
the commission. Further, the Senators are not required by the language of the commission’s
charter to forward to the President every commission recommendation that they receive. Absent a
commitment to be bound by a merit panel’s recommendations, Senators retain the discretion to
further inquire, on their own, into the qualifications of persons recommended by the commission ¹¹¹
and to pass along to the President only those recommendations that they find acceptable.

In every presidential Administration in recent decades, there has been an office assigned principal
responsibility for consulting with Senators regarding judicial appointments in their state. When a
federal judgeship in a Senator’s state becomes vacant, or there is the imminent prospect of a
vacancy occurring, a frequent scenario will find the Senator or top aides to the Senator in contact
with, or contacted by, this office. In some recent Administration, the role of consulting with
Senators about judicial appointments was performed primarily by officials in the Department of
Justice. During the presidency of George W. Bush, however, the White House counsel’s office has ¹¹²
played the primary liaison role with Senators regarding judicial appointments. As the primary

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^d^e^si^gn^ee,^f^o^{r vacan}^ci^e^sⁱⁿ^t^h^{e E}^a^s^t^ern^Di^st^ri^ct^o^f^Wⁱ^scoⁿ^sⁱⁿ^.^In^t^h^e^{case o}^f^ci^rcuⁱ^t^co^u^r^t^ap^poⁱⁿ^t^m^en^t^s^,^t^h^{e co}^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^oⁿ^’^s
^e^l^e^v^eⁿ^{th a}^{nd tw}^e^l^f^t^{h m}^e^m^b^e^r^s^a^r^{e the}^de^aⁿ^s^of^bot^{h la}^w^s^c^hools^,^or^theⁱ^r^de^sⁱ^gⁿ^e^e^s^.
¹¹⁰^“^W^is^c^ons^{in Fe}^de^r^a^{l N}^o^mⁱ^na^ting^C^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^{on C}^h^a^r^te^r^,^”⁵^{p. (}^C^opy^obtaⁱ^ne^{d f}^r^om^the^of^fⁱ^ce^s^of^Se^nator^s^H^e^r^b^K^o^hl
^a^{nd Russe}^{ll D.}^Fe^ing^o^l^d^.)
¹¹¹^Iⁿ^s^o^m^e^pa^s^t^ins^t^aⁿ^c^e^s^{, Se}^na^t^o^r^s^ha^v^e^r^e^por^te^dly^c^ons^ide^r^e^d^t^h^e^m^se^lv^e^s^boun^{d t}^o^accep^t^,^an^{d p}^a^{ss al}^oⁿ^g^t^o^t^h^e
^P^r^esi^d^eⁿ^t^,^t^h^{e reco}^mm^en^d^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^of^t^h^ei^{r n}^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱⁿ^{g co}^mmⁱ^ssi^oⁿ^s^.^A^st^u^d^y^o^f^j^u^dⁱ^ci^al^sel^ectⁱ^o^{n du}^ri^{ng t}^h^{e p}^r^esi^d^en^cy
^of^Jⁱ^m^m^y^C^a^r^t^e^r^{, w}^h^eⁿ^s^e^na^torⁱ^a^l^us^e^of^nom^ina^ting^c^o^m^m^is^sⁱ^ons^w^a^s^wⁱ^de^s^p^r^e^a^d^{, f}^oun^{d tha}^t^the^c^o^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^ons^c^oul^d
^be^divⁱ^de^dⁱⁿ^{to tw}^{o g}^r^o^ups—”^ba^s^e^{d on}^w^h^e^t^he^{r the}^c^o^m^mⁱ^ssi^{ons subm}^itte^{d the}ⁱ^r^lis^{ts of}^c^a^ndi^da^te^{s dire}^c^tly^{to the}
^e^x^e^c^u^tiv^e^br^aⁿ^c^h^w^{ithout a}^lte^r^a^tio^{n by}^theⁱ^r^s^p^ons^or^s^,^or^to^theⁱ^r^s^p^ons^or^s^,^w^{ho r}^e^s^e^r^v^e^d^the^rⁱ^g^h^{t t}^o^r^e^duc^e^the^lis^ts^a^nd
^su^b^mⁱ^t^smal^l^e^{r l}ⁱ^s^t^s^o^f^sel^ect^ed^caⁿ^dⁱ^d^a^t^e^{s t}^o^t^h^{e execu}^tⁱ^v^{e b}^r^an^ch^.^In¹⁷^st^at^es,^sen^a^t^o^{rs c}^h^o^s^{e t}^o^t^a^{ke t}^h^ei^r
^co^mmⁱ^ssi^oⁿ^s^{’ l}ⁱ^s^t^s^and^sel^ect^oⁿ^e^o^r^m^o^{re can}^dⁱ^d^a^t^e^{s f}^r^o^m^t^h^ei^{r l}ⁱ^s^t^s^f^o^{r each}^vac^aⁿ^c^y^.^{” Ne}^ff^,^Uⁿ^ite^{d Sta}^t^e^s^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t
^J^udge^N^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tin^{g C}^o^m^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^ons^,^p.⁶⁵^.
¹¹²^A^Dep^a^rt^m^eⁿ^t^o^f^Ju^stⁱ^{ce o}^f^fⁱ^ci^alⁱⁿ^vo^l^v^edⁱⁿ^t^h^{e j}^u^di^ci^al^sel^ectⁱ^oⁿ^p^r^o^{cess d}^u^rⁱⁿ^{g t}^h^{e f}ⁱ^rst^t^w^o^y^e^{ars o}^f^Geo^r^ge^W^.
^Bu^sh^{’s p}^r^esi^d^en^cy^e^x^p^l^aiⁿ^e^d^,ⁱⁿ^a^Jan^.^6,²⁰⁰³^,ⁱⁿ^t^e^rvi^e^w^wⁱ^t^h^sch^o^l^a^rs,^t^h^at^t^h^{e “o}^u^t^reach^t^o^sen^a^t^o^rs,^t^h^{e l}ⁱ^aⁱ^s^oⁿ^s^f^o^r
^s^e^na^tors^{, a}^r^e^do^ne^by^the^W^h^ite^H^ous^e^Co^uns^e^l^’s^of^fⁱ^c^e^{.... T}^h^e^W^h^ite^H^ous^e^Co^uns^e^l^’s^O^f^fⁱ^c^e^ha^ndle^s^the^c^oⁿ^t^a^c^t^a^nd
^c^ons^ulta^ti^ons^{to a}^l^l^h^o^m^e^s^t^a^t^e^s^e^na^tor^s^{, e}^v^eⁿ^oⁿ^cⁱ^r^c^ui^{t c}^our^ts^{, a}ⁿ^d^e^v^eⁿ^if^the^pe^r^s^{on is}^f^r^om^the^o^p^pos^ite^pa^r^t^y^.^”
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

consultative link with Senators, it is this office that ordinarily receives Senators’
recommendations of specific individuals for judicial appointment.
In recent presidencies, the task of evaluating the background and qualifications of judicial
candidates has been performed by an informal committee of staff persons from the White House
counsel’s office and the Department of Justice. The committee, aided by the research of
subordinate White House or DOJ staff, as well as by investigations of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) into the backgrounds of judicial candidates, decides which candidates to
recommend to the President for nomination. In recent presidencies, the selection process has
consisted of a number of basic preliminary steps, including, for any given Administration, all or
nearly all of the following:
• At the outset, the names of judicial nominee candidates are identified (as
recommended by Senators or others outside the Administration or as generated
from within the Administration).
• The candidates fill out various forms and questionnaires, including a personal
background information form for the FBI, a financial disclosure form, a White
House questionnaire, and a questionnaire from the Senate Judiciary Committee.
(Sometimes, the Administration waits until it has narrowed down the nominee
search to one candidate, requiring only that candidate to fill out the
aforementioned forms.)
• An initial evaluation (or “preliminary vetting”) of the candidates is conducted,
which includes interviewing some or all of the candidates (either by phone or in
person) and reviewing publicly available information about them (such as their
published writings and news media accounts of their past activities in public ¹¹³
life).
• The candidates also might, or might not, be asked by the Administration to fill
out a questionnaire of an American Bar Association committee, which evaluates ¹¹⁴
and rates the professional qualifications of nominees for federal judgeships.

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^G^o^ldm^a^{n e}^t^a^l^{., “}^W^{. B}^u^s^h^R^e^m^a^king^the^J^u^dicⁱ^a^r^y^,^”^{p. 28}^{7. T}^h^e^s^a^m^e^s^c^hola^r^s^,^a^f^te^r^inte^r^v^iewⁱ^ng^B^u^s^h^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion
^of^fⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^{s t}^w^{o y}^e^a^r^{s la}^te^{r, re}^ite^ra^te^{d the}ⁱ^r^e^a^r^lie^{r im}^pre^{ssion a}^b^o^u^{t t}^h^e^c^onsulta^tiv^e^role^pla^y^e^d^by^the^W^h^ite^House^:^“^I^f
^the^r^e^is^oⁿ^e^d^o^m^a^{in in the}^s^e^le^c^tⁱ^on^pr^oc^e^s^s^tha^t^r^e^m^a^ins^aⁿ^e^x^c^l^us^iv^e^pr^e^s^e^r^v^e^o^f^the^W^h^ite^H^ous^e^C^ouns^e^l^’^s^O^f^fⁱ^c^e^,^a^s
^w^e^f^{ound tw}^{o y}^e^a^r^s^a^g^{o, tha}^t^a^r^e^a^inv^o^lv^e^s^c^ons^ul^ta^tio^{n a}ⁿ^{d ne}^g^o^ti^a^{tion w}^{ith s}^e^na^t^o^r^s^a^b^o^u^{t s}^p^e^cⁱ^fⁱ^c^nom^ine^e^s^or
^p^o^t^entⁱ^a^l^no^mⁱⁿ^ees.^”^G^o^l^d^m^aⁿ^et^al^.^,^“W^.^Bu^sh^{’s Jud}ⁱ^ci^ary^:^T^h^{e F}ⁱ^r^s^t^T^e^r^m^Re^co^rd^,^”^p²⁴⁷^.
¹¹³^If^{FBI a}^nd^othe^{r f}^o^rm^s^a^{nd que}^s^tⁱ^onna^ire^s^a^l^re^a^d^y^ha^v^e^be^eⁿ^f^ille^{d out,}^the^s^e^w^{ill be}^re^vⁱ^e^w^e^d^by^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^ra^tion
^vet^t^e^rs^f^o^{r an}^y^p^oⁱⁿ^t^{s t}^h^at^mⁱ^gh^tⁿ^eed^t^o^b^e^rai^s^ed^o^r^cl^eared^u^p^w^h^en^{a can}^dⁱ^d^a^t^eⁱ^sⁱⁿ^t^e^rvi^e^wed^.^V^e^t^t^{ers al}^so^mⁱ^gh^t
^m^a^k^e^te^le^phone^c^onta^c^t^w^{ith i}^ndi^vⁱ^dua^ls^na^m^e^{d in the}^que^s^tⁱ^oⁿⁿ^aⁱ^r^e^s⁽^s^uc^{h a}^s^the^c^h^ie^f^judg^e^s^of^the^f^e^de^r^a^{l dis}^t^rⁱ^c^t^a^nd
^a^ppe^a^l^s^c^our^tsⁱⁿ^w^h^ic^{h t}^h^e^c^a^ndi^da^te^s^pr^a^c^tic^e^d^la^w⁾^{to e}^lic^{it the}ⁱ^r^im^pr^e^s^sⁱ^ons^of^the^c^a^ndida^te^s^.
¹¹⁴^Fr^om¹⁹⁵^2,^dur^ing^t^h^e^la^s^t^m^onths^of^the^T^r^um^aⁿ^pr^e^s^ideⁿ^c^y^{, to the}^e^nd^of^the^C^lⁱⁿ^to^{n p}^r^e^s^ideⁿ^c^y^{in 2}⁰⁰¹^{, t}^h^e
^A^B^A^’^{s S}^t^an^dⁱⁿ^g^Co^mmⁱ^t^t^{ee o}ⁿ^F^e^d^e^ral^Ju^dⁱ^ci^ary^p^l^a^y^ed^{a q}^u^a^si^-o^f^fⁱ^ci^al^ad^vi^so^r^y^ro^l^e^t^o^each^A^d^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿⁱⁿ^t^h^e
^low^e^r^c^our^{t s}^e^le^c^tion^pr^oc^e^s^s^,^c^oⁿ^f^ideⁿ^tia^lly^ev^a^l^ua^ting^the^pr^of^e^s^sⁱ^ona^l^qua^lif^ic^a^tions^of^c^a^ndida^te^s^f^o^r^low^e^r^c^our^t
^ju^d^g^eshⁱ^p^s^,^p^rⁱ^o^{r t}^o^t^h^{eir n}^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tioⁿ^.^D^u^riⁿ^g^th^is^p^r^o^{cess, each}^A^d^mⁱⁿⁱ^stratioⁿⁱⁿ^f^o^rm^ed^th^{e A}^B^A^c^o^mm^{ittee o}^f
^pe^rsons^un^de^{r f}ⁱ^na^{l c}^onsi^d^e^r^a^tion^f^o^{r nom}ⁱⁿ^a^tion^to^distric^t^{or c}ⁱ^rc^ui^{t c}^ourt^ju^dg^e^s^{hips, w}^{ith t}^h^e^P^r^e^s^id^eⁿ^{t a}^w^a^iting^the
^c^o^m^m^itte^e^’^{s e}^v^a^l^ua^tions^of^the^c^a^ndi^da^te^{s be}^f^o^re^de^cⁱ^ding^w^h^e^t^he^r^{to n}^o^mⁱ^na^te^{. Se}^e^A^r^c^h^iv^e^d^{CRS Re}^port^96-⁴⁴^6,^Th^e
^Am^e^r^ic^{an Bar}^As^s^o^cⁱ^ati^on’^s^St^an^din^g^C^o^m^mⁱ^t^t^e^e^on^Fe^de^r^a^{l J}^u^dicⁱ^ar^y^:^{A H}ⁱ^s^t^or^ic^{al O}^v^e^r^vⁱ^e^w^,^by^D^e^nis^Ste^v^eⁿ
^R^u^tk^us^{. (}^C^o^p^y^a^v^a^ila^ble^f^r^o^m^a^u^thor^.)^Iⁿ²⁰⁰¹^{, h}^o^w^e^v^e^r^,^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t^G^e^or^g^e^W^.^B^u^s^h^e^nde^d^this^pr^oc^e^s^s^,^e^x^c^l^uding^the
^A^B^A^c^o^m^m^itte^e^f^r^o^m^aⁿ^y^f^u^rthe^{r role}ⁱⁿ^the^pre^-ⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^{tion j}^u^dⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^se^le^c^{tion pr}^oc^e^{ss. Sinc}^e^t^h^eⁿ^{, t}^h^e^c^o^m^m^itte^e^ha^s
^pe^r^f^or^m^e^{d a}ⁿ^e^v^a^l^ua^tion^of^judicⁱ^a^l^c^a^ndida^te^s^oⁿ^ly^af^te^r^theⁱ^r^nom^ina^tio^ns^ha^v^e^be^eⁿ^m^a^de^by^the^Pr^e^s^ideⁿ^t.
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

• The search is narrowed down to one candidate, who is recommended to the
President for more intensive evaluation;
• The President clears the candidate for this more intensive evaluation, known as
“detailed vetting.”
The detailed vetting phase of the selection process, for any given Administration in recent
decades, has included all, or nearly all, of the following steps:
• The FBI conducts a confidential background investigation of the candidate,
which typically takes four to six weeks.
• The ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, if informed by the
Administration of the candidate under consideration (and upon receipt of an ABA
questionnaire filled out by the candidate) also conducts an investigation of the ¹¹⁵
candidate.
• Simultaneously with the FBI investigation (and with the ABA committee
investigation as well, if that committee is involved in the pre-nomination
selection process), executive branch staff from the Department of Justice or the
White House or both carefully review the candidate’s written opinions or other
legal writings (depending on whether the candidate is a judge or a practicing
attorney), as well as the forms and questionnaires filled out by the candidate, and
interview persons in the legal community who have had past contact with, or
have knowledge about, the candidate.
• A follow-up interview of the candidate is conducted (either in person or by
telephone) to address any new questions or confirm new information arising out
of the detailed vetting process.
• Judicial selection staff in the Administration evaluate the results of the detailed
vetting effort and recommend to the President whether to nominate the candidate.
In the Administration of President George W. Bush, the above steps in the selection process have
been directed by a judicial selection committee consisting of staff from the White House
counsel’s office and the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Policy (OLP). Under the
committee’s direction, OLP staff have had primary responsibility for investigating the background
and qualifications of prospective nominees. The sole responsibility for liaison with U.S. Senators,
on the other hand, has resided with the White House counsel’s office. Staff in this office receive
input from Senators regarding judicial candidates and consult with Senators or their staff at
different steps in the judicial candidate evaluation process. Consultation can be expected to
include apprising Senators of the status of their recommended candidates and indicating how far
along the Administration has progressed in narrowing its search for a nominee.

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^Ev^a^l^ua^{tions a}^r^e^se^{nt t}^o^t^h^e^Se^na^te^Judicⁱ^a^r^y^Com^m^itte^e^,^w^h^ic^{h t}^y^pic^a^l^l^y^a^w^a^{its re}^c^e^{ipt of}^the^A^B^A^e^v^a^l^ua^{tions be}^f^o^re^it
^hol^ds^c^onf^ir^m^a^{tion he}^a^r^ing^s^oⁿ^t^h^e^nom^ina^tionsⁱⁿ^que^s^tⁱ^on.
¹¹⁵^How^e^ve^{r, a}^s^note^d^a^b^ov^e^,^the^A^B^A^c^o^m^m^itte^e^doe^{s no}^{t pe}^rf^orm^{this role}^f^o^{r t}^h^e^c^u^rre^nt^Bush^A^d^mⁱ^nistra^tioⁿ
^(w^hⁱ^ch^{, u}ⁿ^l^ik^{e p}^r^ev^io^u^s^recen^{t ad}^mⁱⁿⁱ^stratioⁿ^s^{, d}^o^{es n}^o^{t i}ⁿ^f^o^rm^th^e^A^B^A^co^mm^{ittee o}^f^ju^dⁱ^{cial can}^dⁱ^d^a^{tes it is}
^c^onside^rⁱⁿ^g^{or se}^e^k^the^c^o^m^m^itte^e^’^{s e}^v^a^l^ua^{tion of}^th^e^s^e^c^a^ndi^da^te^{s be}^f^o^re^m^a^kⁱ^ng^nom^ina^{tion de}^cⁱ^si^ons).

Initial contacts between an administration and a Senator’s office regarding judicial appointments ¹¹⁶
can be expected to clarify the nature of the Senator’s recommending role. A principal question
to be addressed in these contacts will be the degree to which the Administration, in its judicial
candidate search, will rely on recommendations from the Senator. The Senator, for instance, will
want to know whether the Administration will give sole or primary consideration to candidates
that the Senator recommends for a particular judgeship—and, further, whether the
Administration, if not comfortable with the Senator’s candidates, will seek, and rely primarily on,
additional recommendations from the Senator (rather than on recommendations coming from
others). This role typically might be expected when the Senator is the only Senator in the state of
the President’s party, or if the state’s other Senator is also of the President’s party and the two are
making joint recommendations, and if the vacancy to be filled is on a district court.
Under different circumstances, however, the Administration, might intend the Senator to have a
lesser role. The Administration, for example, might welcome recommendations from the Senator,
while also encouraging recommendations from other sources and while conducting its own search
for candidates. This role might often be the case if the Senator is of the President’s party but the
appointment in question would be to a circuit court. In a third type of arrangement, it might be
understood that the Senator would not be regarded as a primary source for candidate
recommendations; however, as a courtesy, the Administration would consider any
recommendations the Senator might make, apprise the Senator of judicial candidates under
serious consideration, and invite the Senator’s opinions about those candidates before one were
selected as a nominee. This often might be the case when the Senator is of the opposition party,
regardless of the kind of judgeship in question, and sometimes might be the case when the
Senator is of the President’s party and the appointment in question is to a circuit court.
Another question to be addressed in preliminary consultations between a Senator’s office and the
Administration will be the number of persons, if any, that the Senator is expected to recommend
for a single judicial vacancy. In recent presidencies, the Administration practice usually has been
to request that a Senator supply the names of at least three candidates for a judgeship, affording
the President more options in making a final choice than would be possible with only one
candidate under consideration. If multiple recommendations are requested by the Administration,
a Senator might wish to establish whether this is a preference or a requirement. If a requirement,
the Senator might wish to inquire into the Administration’s possible willingness to initially
evaluate only the Senator’s first choice and, if finding that choice acceptable, to dispense with ¹¹⁷
evaluating the other recommended candidates.

¹¹⁶^Su^bse^que^nt^ly^{, during}^a^pa^rtic^ula^r^pre^s^ideⁿ^c^y^{, a}^Se^na^{tor m}ⁱ^g^h^{t c}^ons^ide^r^it^ne^c^e^ssa^r^y^{to ha}^v^e^a^dditio^na^{l c}^onta^c^t^w^ith
^the^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^{tion to}^c^onf^ir^m^or^f^u^r^t^he^r^c^l^a^r^if^y^the^na^tur^e^of^the^Se^na^tor^’^s^r^e^c^o^m^m^e^nding^role^{. T}^h^is^situa^tio^{n m}ⁱ^g^h^t
^a^r^is^e^,^f^o^r^e^x^am^ple^,ⁱ^f^the^Se^na^tor^be^lie^v^e^s^tha^t^the^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^{tion i}^s^{not f}^u^lly^c^onf^or^mⁱ^ng^{to e}^a^r^lie^r^a^g^r^e^e^d^-^upon
^pr^oc^e^dur^e^s^r^e^g^a^r^d^ing^t^h^e^Se^na^t^o^r^’^s^r^o^leⁱⁿ^the^j^u^dⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^s^e^le^c^tion^pr^o^c^e^s^s^,^if^new^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion^of^fⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^s^a^s^s^u^m^e
^re^s^ponsⁱ^b^ility^f^o^{r judic}ⁱ^a^l^c^aⁿ^dⁱ^da^te^s^e^le^c^{tion or}^lia^is^oⁿ^w^{ith Se}^na^t^o^rs^{on j}^u^dⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^s^e^le^c^{tion m}^a^tte^rs^{, or}^if^a^ne^w^Mem^b^e^r
ⁱ^s^el^ect^ed^t^o^t^h^{e st}^at^{e’s o}^t^h^e^r^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^seat^.
¹¹⁷^P^r^esi^d^en^t^R^oⁿ^a^l^d^Reagan^{’s A}^d^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^app^{ears t}^o^h^a^{ve b}^een^t^h^{e f}ⁱ^rst^t^oⁱⁿ^stⁱ^t^u^t^{e a regu}^l^a^{r req}^uⁱ^r^e^m^en^t^t^h^at^a
^h^o^m^{e st}^at^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^{r p}^r^o^vⁱ^d^{e t}^h^eⁿ^a^{mes o}^f^at^l^east^t^h^{ree can}^dⁱ^d^a^t^e^{s f}^o^{r a vacan}^t^j^u^d^g^eshⁱ^p^.^T^hⁱ^s^p^r^actⁱ^{ce was co}ⁿ^tⁱⁿ^u^e^d
^by^the^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^{tion of}^G^e^or^g^e^H^.^W^.^B^u^s^h^,^obs^e^r^v^e^{d pa}^r^t^of^the^tⁱ^m^e^b^y^the^C^linto^{n A}^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^{tion, a}ⁿ^{d r}^e^-ⁱ^ns^ti^tute^d
^{as a s}^y^st^e^m^atⁱ^c^p^r^actⁱ^{ce b}^y^t^h^{e A}^d^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^o^f^G^e^o^r^ge^W^.^Bu^sh^.
^Suc^h^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^{tion r}^e^quir^e^m^e^nts^,^how^e^v^e^r^{, ha}^v^e^{not a}^l^w^a^y^s^pr^e^v^eⁿ^te^{d Se}^na^t^o^r^s^f^r^om^ex^pr^e^s^sⁱ^ng^s^t^r^ong^pr^e^f^e^r^eⁿ^c^e^s
^f^o^r^one^c^a^ndi^da^te^or^f^r^om^s^e^c^u^rⁱ^ng^f^o^r^tha^t^c^a^ndida^te^aⁿ^“ⁱ^ns^ide^tr^a^c^k^”^{in the}^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion’^s^s^e^le^c^tion^pr^oc^e^s^s^.^F^o^r
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

Also a topic of possible discussion would be the Senator’s relationship with the other state’s
Senator and the extent to which the two Senators would be coordinating or sharing the role as
recommender. If one Senator would be taking the lead, to what extent would that Senator, or
Administration officials, assume the responsibility for consulting with the other Senator regarding
the search for, and evaluation of, judicial candidates? If an advisory panel were to be used, would
it serve that Senator alone, or would the panel’s recommendations, before being forwarded to the
Administration, be cleared by the other Senator as well? If neither Senator were of the President’s
party, would designated officials in the President’s party having a judicial recommendation role in
that state be making recommendations to the Administration in close consultation with the
Senators or apart from them?
The long-standing practice of presidential administrations ordinarily has been to give the primary
recommending function to Senators of the President’s party (or to House Members or state
officials of the President’s party when there are no Senators from the states of the vacancies) if
the vacancy to be filled is that of a district judgeship. For circuit court nominations, by contrast,
the Administration’s usual practice (especially so with the most recent presidencies) has been to
center its consideration on candidates whom it selected on its own, rather than on persons ¹¹⁸
recommended by home state Senators.

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^ins^t^aⁿ^c^e^,^d^u^rⁱ^ng^t^h^e^R^e^a^g^aⁿ^pr^e^s^ideⁿ^c^y^{, a}ⁿ^a^ttorⁿ^e^y^w^o^r^k^ing^{on j}^u^dicⁱ^a^l^s^e^le^c^tionsⁱⁿ^t^h^e^W^h^ite^H^o^u^s^e^c^ouns^e^l^’^s^of^fⁱ^c^e
^note^d^tha^t^“^s^om^e^of^{our f}ⁱ^e^r^c^e^s^{t ba}^ttle^s^w^e^r^e^w^{ith s}^a^m^e^-pa^r^t^y^Re^public^aⁿ^s^e^na^tors^on^dis^t^rⁱ^c^t^ju^dg^e^s^{, w}^h^e^r^e^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t
^Reagan^so^u^g^h^t^t^oⁱⁿ^stⁱ^t^u^t^{e a very}^coⁿ^t^ro^versi^a^l^ru^l^e^.^{He i}ⁿ^si^st^ed^oⁿ^recei^viⁿ^g^t^h^{ree n}^a^m^e^s^f^r^o^m^Re^public^aⁿ^s^e^na^tor^s^f^o^r
^dis^t^rⁱ^c^t^c^o^ur^t^nom^ine^e^s^{. W}^e^tr^ie^{d to e}ⁿ^f^o^r^c^e^tha^t^rⁱ^g^o^r^ous^ly^{. W}^e^ha^{d s}^o^m^e^s^e^na^tor^s^w^{ho w}^{ould s}^a^y^,^‘^I^f^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t
^Re^a^g^aⁿ^w^a^{nts thre}^e^na^m^e^{s, I’ll g}ⁱ^v^e^him^thre^e^na^m^e^s,^S^m^{ith, Sm}^{ith, a}^nd^Sm^{ith.’ Ultim}^a^t^e^l^y^,^Judg^e^Sm^{ith g}^o^t
^a^ppoi^nte^d^.”^A^l^aⁿ^C^h^a^r^le^s^R^a^ul^{, a}^s^s^o^cⁱ^a^t^e^c^ouns^e^l^t^o^P^r^e^sⁱ^d^eⁿ^{t R}^ona^{ld R}^e^a^g^aⁿ^{, qu}^ote^dⁱⁿ^{, “}^S^e^l^e^c^ting^Fe^de^r^a^{l J}^udg^e^s^;
^T^h^e^Role^a^{nd Re}^sp^onsi^b^ilitie^s^of^the^Ex^e^c^u^tiv^e^Braⁿ^c^h^,^Ju^di^ca^t^u^re^,^v^o^{l. 8}⁶^{, J}^u^ly^-^A^ug^{. 2002}^{, p}^.²⁰^.
^For^dis^t^rⁱ^c^t^c^o^ur^{t a}^p^poi^ntm^e^nts^du^rⁱ^ng^the^pr^e^s^ideⁿ^c^y^of^G^e^or^ge^H^.^W^.^B^u^s^h^{, a}^s^c^ho^la^rⁿ^o^te^{d, “}^t^he^J^u^s^tic^e^D^e^pa^r^t^m^e^nt
^{asks Rep}^u^b^lⁱ^can^sen^a^t^o^{rs t}^o^sub^mⁱ^t^t^h^{ree n}^a^m^e^{s f}^o^{r Dep}^a^rt^m^eⁿ^t^coⁿ^sⁱ^d^eratⁱ^oⁿ^.^T^h^{ere h}^a^{s b}^{een so}^m^e^resi^st^an^{ce o}ⁿ^t^h^e
^pa^r^t^of^s^o^m^e^s^e^na^tor^s^{, but}^the^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^{tion is}ⁿ^o^{t s}^y^m^p^a^t^he^tic^to^s^e^na^tor^s^w^{ho s}^ubm^{it o}ⁿ^e^na^m^e^a^{nd ins}ⁱ^s^t^tha^t^pe^r^s^on
^be^na^m^e^{d. How}^e^v^e^{r, the}^Justic^e^De^pa^rtm^e^{nt w}^{ill c}^onside^r^oⁿ^e^c^aⁿ^dida^te^a^t^a^tim^e^prov^ide^d^tha^t^if^the^pe^rson^pro^pose^d
^{is not}^sa^tisf^a^c^t^or^y^{to Justic}^e^,^the^s^e^na^{tor w}^{ill subm}^{it a}^not^he^{r na}^m^e^until^a^suita^ble^c^a^ndi^da^te^{is f}^oun^d^.^”^She^l^d^oⁿ
^G^o^ldm^a^{n, “}^T^he^B^u^s^h^I^m^pr^{int o}ⁿ^t^h^e^J^udicⁱ^a^r^y^:^C^a^r^r^yⁱ^ng^{on a}^T^r^a^d^ition,”^J^udic^a^tur^e^,^v^o^l^.⁷⁴^{, A}^p^r^il-^M^a^y¹⁹⁹¹^{, p}^.²⁹⁷^.
^Du^riⁿ^g^m^o^st^o^f^t^h^{e Cl}ⁱⁿ^t^o^{n p}^r^esi^d^en^c^y^,^t^h^{e Ju}^stⁱ^{ce Dep}^a^rt^m^eⁿ^t^“ev^a^l^u^a^t^e^d^on^{e p}^e^rson^at^{a t}ⁱ^m^e^f^o^{r ea}^ch^dⁱ^st^ri^ct^c^o^u^r^t
^v^acan^c^y^{... alt}^houg^{h t}^h^e^pr^oc^liv^ity^w^a^s^r^e^l^a^x^e^{d s}^o^m^e^w^h^a^t^dur^ing^t^h^e^la^s^t^tw^{o y}^e^a^r^s^{in c}^onteⁿ^ti^ous^s^e^tti^ng^s^w^h^e^r^e
^[^A^s^sⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^{t A}^ttorⁿ^e^y^G^e^ne^r^a^{l Ele}^a^nor^D^.^]^A^c^he^s^{on no}^te^{d, ‘}^w^e^kⁿ^e^w^the^w^hole^th^ing^w^a^{s g}^o^ing^{to ta}^k^e^a^w^hole^lot
^long^e^r^{. W}^e^f^ound^our^s^e^lv^e^s^on^m^o^r^e^thaⁿ^oⁿ^e^o^ccasi^oⁿ^l^o^o^kⁱⁿ^{g at}^t^w^o^o^r^t^h^{ree p}^e^op^l^e^si^m^u^l^t^aⁿ^e^o^u^s^l^y^an^d^m^a^kiⁿ^g^a
^de^cⁱ^{sion a}^b^ou^{t w}^hom^{to g}^o^w^ith.’^W^{ith a}^ppe^a^l^{s c}^o^urt^p^o^siti^ons,^{it r}^e^m^a^ine^d^m^o^re^c^o^m^m^{on to e}^v^a^l^ua^te^m^u^ltiple
^c^a^ndida^te^s^f^o^{r s}^p^e^cⁱ^fⁱ^c^s^l^ots^{.... ”}^S^h^e^l^do^{n G}^o^ldm^a^{n, Elli}^{ot Sl}^ot^nic^k^{, e}^t^a^l^{., “}^C^lint^on’s^J^udg^e^s^{; Sum}^mⁱⁿ^g^U^p^the^L^e^g^a^c^y^,”
^J^udic^a^t^u^r^e^{, v}^o^l.⁸⁴^{, Ma}^r^c^h-^A^p^r^il²⁰⁰^1,^p.²³^{1. (}^H^e^r^e^a^f^te^r^c^ite^{d a}^s^G^o^ldm^a^{n, “}^C^lint^on’^s^J^u^dg^e^s^.”⁾
^F^o^{r t}^h^{e A}^d^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^o^f^P^r^esi^d^eⁿ^t^G^e^o^r^{ge W}^.^Bu^sh^,^t^h^{e st}^and^a^rd^p^r^actⁱ^{ce h}^a^{s b}^een^t^o^req^uⁱ^r^{e t}^h^at^ho^m^e^st^at^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^rs
^re^c^o^m^m^e^nding^c^a^ndida^te^{s f}^o^{r d}ⁱ^stric^t^judg^e^s^hi^{ps pr}^ov^ide^“^m^ultiple^na^m^e^s.”^Nov^.^21,²⁰⁰³^{, te}^le^p^h^oⁿ^e^inte^rv^ie^w^w^ith
^at^t^o^rn^ey^S^h^ei^l^a^Jo^y^,^O^f^fⁱ^{ce o}^f^L^e^g^a^{l Polic}^y^,^De^pa^rtm^e^{nt of}^Justic^e^.
¹¹⁸^{In t}^h^{is v}^e^in,^pol^itic^a^l^sc^ie^{ntists i}ⁿ^a²⁰^{05 a}^r^tic^le^e^x^a^mⁱⁿⁱⁿ^g^the^low^e^r^c^our^{t s}^e^le^c^tio^{n pr}^oc^e^s^s^of^the^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tion^of
^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t G}^e^org^e^W^.^{Bush note}^d^,^“^H^istoric^a^lly^{, ide}ⁿ^tif^ic^a^tion^o^f^p^o^t^en^tⁱ^a^l^dⁱ^st^ri^ct^co^u^r^t^no^mⁱⁿ^{ees h}^a^{s l}^a^rgel^y^b^een^t^h^e
^r^o^le^of^hom^e^s^t^a^t^e^pr^e^s^ideⁿ^tia^l^pa^r^t^y^se^na^tor^s^{, or}^{in t}^h^eⁱ^r^a^b^s^e^nc^e^,^ot^he^r^pr^om^ineⁿ^t^pe^r^s^ons^f^r^om^the^pr^e^s^ideⁿ^t’^s^pa^r^t^y^.
^T^h^{e W}^hⁱ^t^e^Ho^u^s^{e’s ro}^l^eⁱⁿ^d^e^si^gnatⁱⁿ^{g n}^o^mⁱⁿ^{ees h}^a^{s i}ⁿ^creased^d^r^a^m^atⁱ^cal^l^y^,^p^a^rtⁱ^c^u^l^arl^yⁱⁿ^recen^t^ad^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^s^,^at
^t^h^{e co}^u^r^t^o^f^ap^p^eal^{s l}^e^vel^.^{” G}^o^l^d^man^et^al^.^,^“W^.^Bu^sh^{’s Jud}ⁱ^ci^ary^:^T^h^{e F}ⁱ^rst^T^e^r^m^Reco^rd^,^”^p^.²⁴⁶^.^Sⁱ^mⁱ^l^a^rl^y^,ⁱⁿ^{a 2}⁰⁰¹
^a^r^tic^le^re^vⁱ^e^w^ing^the^low^e^{r c}^{ourt se}^le^c^{tion pr}^oc^e^{ss of}^the^A^d^mⁱ^nistra^tion^of^P^r^e^sⁱ^d^eⁿ^{t Bil}^l^Cliⁿ^to^{n, t}^h^e^sa^m^e^politic^a^l
^sc^ie^{ntists note}^d^t^h^a^t^the^na^m^e^{s o}^f^distric^t^c^o^{urt c}^aⁿ^dⁱ^da^te^s^“^w^e^r^e^t^y^pic^a^lly^dire^c^t^l^y^subm^itte^{d by}^D^e^m^o^c^r^a^tic^s^e^na^{tors, or}
^w^h^en^t^h^{ere w}^e^r^eⁿ^o^Dem^o^cratⁱ^c^s^eⁿ^a^t^o^{rs f}^r^o^m^t^h^{e st}^at^{es o}^f^t^h^{e vac}^aⁿ^cⁱ^e^s,^b^y^De^m^o^cr^atⁱ^c^Ho^u^s^{e m}^e^m^b^{ers o}^r
^De^m^o^{cratic state o}^f^fⁱ^ci^{als. W}^h^ere^ap^p^{eals co}^u^r^t^v^acan^cies^w^e^{re to}^b^e^f^illed^,ⁿ^a^m^e^{s t}^y^pⁱ^call^y^ca^me^f^r^o^m^th^{e W}^h^ite
^H^ous^e^C^o^uns^e^l^’^s^of^fⁱ^c^e^.^”^G^o^ldm^a^{n, “}^C^lin^to^n’^s^J^u^dg^e^s^,”^pp.²²^9-²³⁰^.

An administration, however, sometimes might be amenable to altering its usual practices. It
might, for example, be amenable to allowing home state Senators not of the President’s party, in
some circumstances, a greater than usual role in recommending district court candidates, or to
allowing home state Senators of either party a greater than usual role in identifying circuit court
candidates for the Administration to consider. Further, even if afforded only a marginal role in
recommending candidates at the outset, a home state Senator, regardless of party affiliation,
ordinarily can expect to be consulted by the Administration subsequently during the selection
process. The typical purpose of such consultation will be to apprise the Senator of candidates that
the Administration is seriously considering and to afford the Senator an opportunity to express his ¹¹⁹
or her views concerning the candidates.
Accordingly, a home state Senator presumably will want to use his or her initial contact with the
Administration, at the very least, to clarify the Administration’s general policy regarding the
recommending role of Senators in the selection of lower court nominees. In some cases, the
Senator, during this initial or subsequent contact, might also wish to explore whether he or she
can play a larger recommending role than ordinarily contemplated by Administration policy.
Further, the Senator might want to clarify, when a home state judicial vacancy arises, how often
and for what purpose the Administration would intend to consult with the Senator until a nominee
were actually selected.
Consultation between a Senator and the Administration over the selection of a judicial nominee
can take different forms, depending on the stage reached in the selection process. Early in the
process, as already noted, consultation may consist primarily of the Senator providing input to the
Administration. The input in many cases will be in the nature of recommending a particular
candidate or list of candidates for a judgeship. If providing more than one name, the Senator
might or might not rank the candidates in order of the Senator’s preferences. The input in some
cases might also take a negative form, with the Senator expressing opposition to particular
candidates or kinds of candidates. (A Senator might provide this kind of input if he or she
understood that the Administration would be relying on its own internally generated list of
candidates or on recommendations from sources other than the Senator.)
In some instances, a Senator may convey recommendations directly to the President—for
example, in an in-person meeting, by telephone, or by letter—without White House or senatorial
staff functioning as intermediaries. A Senator, or an aide on the Senator’s behalf, also may submit
recommendations to the President indirectly, by transmitting them, for example, in written or
other form to the Administration office charged with serving as liaison to Senators on judicial
appointment questions.

¹¹⁹^T^h^{e A}^d^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^o^f^P^r^esi^d^ent^G^e^o^r^g^e^W^.^Bu^sh^h^a^{s assert}^ed^oⁿ^vari^o^u^s^o^ccasi^oⁿ^s^t^h^atⁱ^tⁱ^s^ver^y^o^p^eⁿ^t^o^j^u^dⁱ^ci^al
^c^a^ndida^te^r^e^c^o^m^m^e^nda^tions^f^r^om^Se^na^tor^s^of^b^o^th^pa^r^tie^s^a^s^w^e^{ll a}^s^{to t}^h^eⁱ^r^vⁱ^e^w^s^a^{bout ot}^he^r^c^aⁿ^dⁱ^d^a^te^s^unde^r
^A^d^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^con^sⁱ^d^eratⁱ^oⁿ^.^A^t^t^h^{e co}ⁿ^c^l^u^si^on^o^f^P^r^esi^d^ent^Bu^s^h^’^s^fⁱ^rst^t^e^r^m^,^f^o^{r i}ⁿ^st^an^ce,^{a W}^hⁱ^t^e^Ho^u^s^{e co}^un^sel
^t^o^l^d^sch^o^l^ars,^“W^{e al}^w^a^{ys co}ⁿ^s^u^l^t^wⁱ^t^h^h^o^m^{e st}^at^{e sen}^a^t^o^rs,^De^m^o^crat^{s o}^r^Rep^u^b^lⁱ^can^s,^t^o^fⁱ^nd^ou^tⁱ^f^t^h^{ere are}
^can^dⁱ^d^a^t^e^{s t}^h^at^t^h^ey^w^o^u^l^d^lⁱ^{ke f}^o^{r u}^s^t^o^coⁿ^sⁱ^d^er.^W^e^{are al}^soⁱⁿ^t^e^r^e^st^edⁱⁿ^recei^viⁿ^g^t^h^ei^{r f}^eed^b^{ack o}ⁿ^candⁱ^d^a^t^e^{s w}^e^re
^a^r^e^c^ons^ide^r^ing^.^T^h^e^c^o^ns^ulta^ti^on^ha^s^be^eⁿ^e^x^te^ns^iv^e^a^{nd c}^o^ns^is^te^nt^ly^s^o^.”^D^a^bney^Fr^ie^dr^ic^{h, a}^s^s^o^cⁱ^a^t^e^W^h^ite^H^ous^e
^c^ouns^e^l^,^qu^ote^d^{in G}^o^ldm^a^{n e}^t^a^l^.^,^“^W^{. B}^u^s^h^’^s^J^u^dicⁱ^a^r^y^:^T^h^e^Fir^s^t^T^e^r^m^R^e^c^o^r^d^,”^p.²⁴^7.

As the selection process moves forward, the onus for engaging in further consultation shifts to the
Administration, to apprise the home state Senator where things stand. The point at which this first
occurs may vary somewhat, depending on the particular judicial position to be filled or on the
understandings reached earlier between the Administration and the Senator. Often, however,
renewed consultation can be said to come when the Administration is close to concluding, or has
concluded, its preliminary evaluation of a candidate or candidates for a judgeships. Based in part
on its interviews of the various candidates (if there is more than one candidate) and on a
preliminary examination of the available record of the candidates, the Administration at some
point will be in a position to apprise the home state Senator whether one candidate has emerged
as the clear favorite.
Various policy statements made in recent decades by chairs of the Senate Judiciary Committee
have expressed the view that home state Senators should be informed when an administration has
narrowed its list of candidates for a judgeship to one candidate. The expectation of the policy
statements has been that the home state Senators will be so apprised before the President approves
that candidate for a more intensive “formal clearance”—before the candidate undergoes a
complete FBI background investigation and other aspects of the “detailed vetting” process
discussed earlier. If the Administration is considering the selection of someone other than a
candidate recommended by the Senator, the Administration at this point may apprise the Senator
of this fact, affording the Senator an opportunity to express any opinions or concerns about the
candidate, including whether the Senator might oppose the candidate if nominated. In some
instances, a preliminary review of candidates recommended by a Senator might result in the
Administration deciding that none would be acceptable. At that point the Senator might be called
on to provide additional recommendations for the Administration to consider (or, perhaps less
often, be informed that Administration staff have decided on a candidate of their own to
recommend to the President).
If a judicial candidate under consideration for “formal clearance” is a person recommended by the
home state Senator, such clearance, when it occurs, of course, ordinarily will meet with the
Senator’s wholehearted approval. The subsequent “vetting” of the candidate, as already
discussed, will involve a comprehensive FBI investigation of the candidate and might also
include a review of the candidate’s past rulings or legal writings, and the questionnaires he or she
filled out, as well as an initial or follow-up interview of the candidate, and interviews of persons
in the legal community who have had past contact with, or knowledge about, the candidate.
During this investigation, Administration consultation with the home state Senator might entail
little more than providing routine status reports on the progress of the clearance process,
particularly if nothing problematic about the candidate is found.
By contrast, if a candidate under consideration for formal clearance has not been recommended
by a home state Senator, subsequent Administration consultation with the Senator might, or might
not, take place at several points. If it acts in keeping with the kind of consultative process called
for in past policy statements of the Judiciary Committee, the Administration might notify the
Senator that it is preparing to begin a formal clearance process for a particular candidate,
affording the Senator an opportunity to provide feedback, before it actually initiates the clearance
process. Subsequently, if the Senator, in providing feedback, objects to the candidate, the
Administration, might in turn, as a courtesy (and in accord with past Judiciary Committee policy
statements), notify the Senator that the formal clearance process is being initiated despite the
Senator’s objections.

If, at the conclusion of the clearance process, the President decides to nominate the candidate,
consultation again can be expected, particularly if the home state Senators are of the President’s
party. Specifically, the Administration, if it acts in keeping with past Judiciary Committee
statements, will notify home state Senators (whether or not they recommended the person
involved) before the nomination is actually made. The Administration, however, is not obliged,
by any rule or long-standing custom, to engage in all of the consultative steps just discussed. In
the absence of any requirements to engage in pre-nomination consultation, a President’s
Administration might not always notify home state Senators of judicial candidates it is
considering.

Sometimes, as noted, a President might select a district or circuit court nominee against the
advice of one or both home state Senators. On other occasions, the Administration might provide
a home state Senator little or no opportunity to provide any feedback before a candidate is
selected by the President as a judicial nominee. In either situation, the Senator will then face the
question of whether to oppose the nomination, either first in the Senate Judiciary Committee or
later on the Senate floor.
From the standpoint of a Senator, opposition to a lower court nomination in his or her state may
serve a number of purposes, including the following:
• Preventing confirmation. The Senator’s opposition, if successful, will prevent the
nomination from receiving Senate confirmation. Opposition by the Senator will
succeed if it causes the nomination to fail to be reported out of committee or to
receive Senate consideration or a Senate vote to confirm.
• Averting a similar kind of nomination. Successful opposition to the President’s
nominee (preventing Senate confirmation) might dissuade the President from
making a new nomination to the judgeship of someone else as objectionable to
the Senator as the original nominee.
• Causing the Administration to take consultation more seriously. A Senator’s
opposition to a judicial nominee, based all or in part on an alleged lack of
Administration consultation with the Senator, might persuade the Administration
to consult more closely with the Senator when selecting future home state
judicial nominees.
• Preserving the appointment for a later President or Congress. Successful
opposition to the judicial nomination might, in some situations, delay the filling
of the judgeship in question until a new President is in office or until a new
Congress is convened (where, in either case, the Senator might have more
influence over the selection of home state judicial appointments).

• Drawing attention to policy differences with the Administration. The inability of
the Administration and the Senator to agree on a judicial nominee might suggest
that they have different policy objectives for judicial appointments, or use
different criteria in evaluating judicial candidates. In such situations, a Senator
might wish to publicize, rather than conceal, these differences, to promote his or
her own policy preferences and call those of the Administration into question.
If the Senator decides to oppose the nomination, the first available recourse will be to exercise the
prerogatives afforded to a home state Senator by the blue slip policy of the Senate Judiciary
Committee. As already discussed, the blue slip policy determines what effect the disapproval of a
home state Senator (indicated by the return to the committee of a negative blue slip or by the non-
return of the blue slip) will have on the prospects for a nomination to be considered by the
committee. The blue slip policy is set by the chair of the Judiciary Committee, usually at the
outset of a Congress. Over the years, particularly when the majority party in the Senate has
changed (resulting in a new chair of the Judiciary Committee), or when an outgoing President has
been succeeded by a President of the opposite party, the committee’s blue slip policy also has
changed—sometimes barely noticeably, but other times in more controversial ways.
The most important difference between various blue slip policies applied over the years, it can be
argued, concerns whether, under a particular policy, a home state Senator may block committee
consideration of a nomination simply by returning a negative blue slip (one expressing opposition
to the nomination) or declining to return the blue slip. The blue slip policy of some committee ^th
chairs, including the one in effect during the 110 Congress, has been to afford that basic veto
power to the home state Senator. When the committee’s policy is to consider a nomination only if
both home state Senators have returned positive blue slips, a refusal of one of the Senators to do
so will block the nomination. The Senator, in such a situation, might initially have been
unsuccessful in trying to prevent the President from nominating a particular person. Nevertheless, ^th
under the committee policy in effect in the 110 Congress, the Senator ultimately can succeed in
preventing Senate confirmation of the nominee, by using the Judiciary Committee’s blue slip
procedure to stop the nomination in committee.
The policy of some other chairs of the committee, by contrast, has been not to allow a negative
blue slip, or non-return of a blue slip, by itself to automatically block consideration of the
nomination in committee. For instance, the policy sometimes has been applied to allow
consideration of a judicial nomination when one or even (in very rare instances) both home state
Senators have declined to return positive blue slips, or to allow a negative or unreturned blue slip
to block committee consideration only if the Administration, in the view of the committee chair, ¹²⁰
did not consult in good faith with a home state Senator prior to selecting the nominee.
When the Judiciary Committee’s blue slip policy is not to allow a single home state Senator to
block committee consideration of a lower court nominee, the next recourse available to the
Senator is to convey to the committee his or her objections about the nominee, if and when it
considers the nomination. The Senator might have objections based on concerns about the fitness
of the nominee to be a federal judge, or about the nature or lack of consultation that the
Administration engaged in with the Senator prior to the selection of the nominee. The Senator

¹²⁰^Se^e^,^f^o^{r e}^x^a^m^ple^,^ta^ble^eⁿ^title^{d “}^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^Judicⁱ^a^r^y^Com^m^itte^e^Blue^-Slip^Polic^y^by^Co^m^m^itte^e^Chaⁱ^r^m^aⁿ⁽¹⁹^56-
²⁰⁰³⁾^,”ⁱⁿ^A^r^c^h^iv^e^d^C^R^S^R^e^por^t^R^L³²⁰¹^2,^Aⁿ^imal^Ideⁿ^tific^at^io^{n a}^{nd M}^e^at^Trac^e^a^b^ility^,^p.^26.^Se^e^a^l^s^o^{, i}ⁿ^s^a^m^e
^re^port,^pp^{. 1}³^,²²^{, w}^h^ic^{h disc}^uss^t^w^{o insta}ⁿ^c^e^s^{, one}ⁱⁿ¹⁹⁸⁵^aⁿ^{d t}^h^e^othe^rⁱⁿ²⁰⁰³^{, in}^w^h^ic^{h the}^J^udicⁱ^a^r^y^Com^m^itte^e
^coⁿ^sⁱ^d^ered^j^u^dⁱ^ci^al^no^mⁱⁿ^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^t^h^at^h^a^{d recei}^vedⁿ^e^gatⁱ^v^{e b}^l^u^e^slⁱ^p^{s f}^r^o^m^b^o^t^h^ho^m^e^st^at^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^rs.

might wish to convey these concerns as an argument to the committee against voting on the
nominee or, in the event of a vote, that the vote be to reject. Even if the Senator anticipates that
the committee will vote to report the nomination, the Senator might wish to put his or her
concerns about the nominee on record with the committee, to set the stage for making the same
case again, before the full Senate.
Another tactical option for the Senator will be to try to persuade one or more members of the
Judiciary Committee to engage in a filibuster in committee—in an effort to prevent the committee ¹²¹
from voting on the nomination. Rule IV of the Judiciary Committee’s rules of procedure
provides that debate on a matter before the committee shall be terminated if a non-debatable
motion is made to bring the matter “to a vote without further debate,” and it “passes with ten ¹²²
votes in the affirmative, one of which must be cast by the minority.” Depending on how the
chair of the Judiciary Committee interprets Rule IV, a Senator opposing a nomination might, or
might not, succeed in preventing a committee vote on it (and thus block it in committee). The
Senator will succeed in a filibuster against the nominee, for instance, if none of the minority
members of the Judiciary Committee votes in favor of a motion to terminate debate and if the
chair of the committee interprets Rule IV as “providing the minority with a right not to have
debate terminated and not to be forced to a vote without at least one member of the minority ¹²³
agreeing.” The Senator, however, will not succeed, if the chair wishes to bring the nomination
to a vote and views the committee chair as having “the inherent power to bring a matter to a ¹²⁴
vote.”
If the Judiciary Committee votes to report the objected-to nomination, the home state Senator’s
opposition strategy then shifts to the Senate floor. At this point, the Senator, if so inclined, may
inform his or her party leader that the Senator wants to place a “hold” on the nomination. This
action would have the effect of preventing or delaying Senate action on the nomination, if the
majority leader honors the request for a hold. Alternately, the Senator may request the leader to
place a hold on another nomination or on an important Administration-backed bill, in order to
pressure the President to withdraw the objected-to nomination. The effectiveness of the hold is
grounded in the difficulty for the Senate, under its rules, of getting to a final vote on a nomination
if a single Senator objects. Such an objection, voiced on behalf of the home state Senator, would ¹²⁵
indicate that a hold had been placed on the nomination and that the Senator placing the hold ¹²⁶
might be prepared to filibuster the nomination. To end delay on the nomination and allow for

¹²¹^Of^co^u^r^se,ⁱ^f^a^m^e^m^b^{er o}^f^t^h^{e Ju}^dⁱ^ci^ary^Co^mmⁱ^t^t^ee,^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^{r hi}^msel^f^o^r^h^e^rsel^f^m^a^y^en^gag^eⁱⁿ^t^hⁱ^s^fⁱ^lⁱ^b^u^s^t^e^r,
^e^ithe^r^a^l^one^or⁽ⁱ^de^a^lly^{, f}^r^o^m^the^Se^na^tor^’^s^s^t^aⁿ^dp^oint)^w^{ith s}^u^p^por^{t f}^r^om^othe^r^m^e^m^b^e^r^s^of^the^c^o^m^m^itte^e^.
¹²²^{U.S. C}^ong^re^{ss, Se}^na^te^Com^m^itte^e^{on t}^h^e^Ju^dicⁱ^a^r^y^,^Rule^s^{of Pr}^oc^e^dur^e^,^accessed^F^e^b^.^5,²⁰⁰⁸^,^at
^http:^//www^.judicⁱ^a^r^y^.^se^na^te^.g^ov^/^c^om^m^itte^e^_^rule^s.c^f^m^.
¹²³^S^eⁿ^.^P^a^t^rⁱ^c^{k J.}^L^eah^y^,^“No^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^oⁿ^o^f^Mⁱ^gu^el^A^.^E^s^t^r^ad^a,^o^f^Vⁱ^rgiⁿⁱ^a^,^T^o^{Be Un}ⁱ^t^e^d^S^t^at^{es Ci}^rcuⁱ^t^J^u^d^g^{e f}^o^{r t}^h^e
^Distric^t^of^Colum^b^ia^Circ^u^it,”^re^m^a^rk^{s in the}^Se^na^te^,^C^ongr^e^s^sⁱ^oⁿ^a^{l Re}^c^o^r^d^,^v^o^{l. 14}^{9, Ma}^r^c^h¹³^{, 20}^{03, p. 61}⁸⁵^.
¹²⁴^Se^{n. Orri}^{n G}^.^Ha^tc^{h, “}^N^om^ina^tio^{n of}^Mig^u^e^l^A^.^Estra^d^a^,^of^Vⁱ^rgⁱⁿ^ia^{, T}^o^Be^Unite^d^Sta^t^e^s^Circ^{uit J}^u^dg^e^f^o^{r the}
^Distric^t^of^Colum^b^ia^Circ^uit,”^le^t^t^e^{r to Se}^na^t^e^Dem^o^cratⁱ^c^l^ead^{er i}ⁿ^t^r^o^d^u^cedⁱⁿ^t^o^t^h^e^R^eco^rd^d^u^rin^g^re^mark^{s in}^th^e
^Se^na^te^,^C^o^ngr^e^s^sⁱ^on^{al Re}^c^o^r^d^{, v}^o^l^{. 1}^49,^Ma^r^c^h^3,²⁰^03,^p.⁴⁹⁵⁴^.
¹²⁵^T^h^{e Sen}^a^to^{r i}ⁿ^itially^ma^y^p^l^{ace t}^h^{e h}^o^ld^w^ith^t^h^{e p}^a^rty^lead^{er an}^oⁿ^y^m^o^u^s^l^y^{. Ho}^wev^e^{r, i}^f^{, in}^resp^oⁿ^s^{e to}^{a m}^o^tioⁿ^,
^the^pa^rty^le^a^d^e^r^{or the}^le^a^d^e^r’s^de^sigⁿ^e^e^obje^c^t^{s e}^x^plic^itly^{on be}^ha^l^f^of^the^Se^na^{tor, t}^h^e^le^a^d^e^r^{, u}^nde^r^ne^w^Se^na^te^rule^s,
^w^{ould a}^ppa^r^eⁿ^tly^ideⁿ^tif^y^the^Seⁿ^a^tor^.^F^o^r^aⁿ^aⁿ^a^l^y^s^is^of^the^pr^oc^e^s^s^by^w^h^ic^{h Se}^na^tor^s^us^e^ho^lds^t^o^bloc^k^or^de^la^y
^Se^na^te^f^l^oor^c^onsⁱ^d^e^r^a^tio^{n of}^{, or}^a^c^tion^on^{, a}^m^e^a^s^ur^e^or^m^a^tte^r^,^s^e^{e C}^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^L³⁴²⁵⁵^,^Se^nate^P^o^lic^y^on^“H^o^l^ds^”:^th
^Ac^{tion in the}¹¹⁰^C^o^ngr^e^s^s^{, c}^o^o^r^dina^te^d^by^W^a^lte^r^J^.^O^l^e^s^z^e^k^.
¹²⁶^A^f^ilibus^te^r^-^m^inde^{d Se}^na^t^o^r^w^o^u^l^{d be}^one^pr^e^p^a^r^e^d^t^o^us^e^e^x^te^nde^{d de}^ba^te^aⁿ^d^othe^r^de^la^yⁱ^ng^a^c^tions^to^pr^e^v^eⁿ^{t a}
^v^o^te^f^r^o^m^oc^c^u^rring^.

an eventual vote on it may require three-fifths of the entire Senate membership, or 60 of 100, to ¹²⁷
vote in the affirmative under the cloture procedure of Senate Rule XXII.
As long as the Senate majority leader honors the hold placed by the home state Senator, the ¹²⁸
nomination will not receive floor consideration. (The Senator’s hold will prevent confirmation
if it succeeds in pressuring the President to withdraw the nomination or if it is honored by the
majority leader until an adjournment of the Senate for more than 30 days, at which point, under
Senate rules, the nomination may be returned to the President.) However, if the majority leader
decides to schedule action on the nomination, the Senator must decide whether to filibuster it (as
well as whether to enlist the support of other Senators in this effort). For their part, Senators
supporting the nomination, in response to a filibuster (or in anticipation of one), may file a cloture
petition (signed by 16 Members) to end debate. If three-fifths of the Senate’s membership votes in
favor of cloture, a maximum of 30 hours of additional debate on the nomination would remain.
After 30 hours, unless less time were used, the Senate would vote on whether to confirm.
The success of a Senator’s strategy to defeat the nomination by filibuster will be determined by ¹²⁹
the Senate’s vote on any cloture motion that might be filed. If fewer than three-fifths of the
Senate’s Members vote to invoke cloture, the Senator (and other Senators voting against cloture)
will have succeeded in preventing a Senate vote on the nomination, at least at that time.
Sometimes, a home state Senator might choose not to oppose a judicial nominee selected by the
President with little apparent regard for the views of the Senator during the nominee selection
process. Various considerations might influence the Senator to take this position.
One consideration for not opposing the nominee might be the desirability of filling the vacant
judgeship in question as promptly as possible. To successfully oppose the nomination in the
Judiciary Committee or the full Senate would compel the President to make a new nomination for
the judgeship at a later point in time. The Senator’s opposition, in other words, would prolong the
time in which the judgeship was vacant. Hence, a Senator, in some situations, might consider
filling the vacancy with a nominee in whom he or she found fault (or about whom the Senator had
been inadequately consulted) to be a “lesser evil” than prolonging the vacancy indefinitely by
successfully opposing the nominee in the Senate.
In some situations, another consideration for not opposing a nomination might be the nominee’s
qualifications for the judgeship—particularly if the nominee appeared highly qualified. This
consideration, it could be argued, might be a reason for a Senator not to oppose the nominee

¹²⁷^For^aⁿ^a^l^y^s^is^o^f^Se^na^te^pr^oc^e^dur^e^a^{nd r}^u^le^s^tha^t^g^o^v^e^rⁿ^e^f^f^o^r^t^s^by^S^e^na^tor^s^to^eⁿ^d^f^l^oor^de^ba^te^onⁿ^o^m^ina^tions^{, s}^e^e
^C^R^S^R^e^por^t^R^L³¹⁹^48,^Ev^ol^uti^on^{of t}^h^e^Seⁿ^a^te^’^s^Ro^leⁱⁿ^the^N^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tioⁿ^an^{d C}^o^nfir^m^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^Pr^oc^e^s^s^:^{A Br}^ie^{f H}ⁱ^s^t^or^y^{, by}
^B^e^tsy^P^a^lm^e^r⁽^unde^r^he^a^dⁱⁿ^g^“^F^il^ibus^te^r^”⁾^;^aⁿ^{d C}^R^S^R^e^por^t^R^L³²⁸^43,^“En^t^r^e^nc^hm^eⁿ^t”^of^Seⁿ^a^te^Pr^oc^e^dur^e^a^nd^the
^“^N^u^c^l^e^a^r^Op^tⁱ^on^”^f^o^{r Cha}ⁿ^g^e^{: P}^o^ssi^b^l^{e P}^r^o^ceedⁱⁿ^g^s^aⁿ^d^T^h^ei^{r Im}^p^lⁱ^c^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^,^b^y^Ri^ch^ard^S^.^Bet^h^.
¹²⁸^“^I^{t is u}^p^t^o^the^m^a^jority^le^a^d^e^r^{to de}^cⁱ^de^w^h^e^t^he^{r, or}^f^o^r^how^long^,^he^w^{ill ho}^{nor a}^c^o^lle^a^g^ue^{’s hol}^d.^Sc^he^dul^ing^the
^busine^ss^of^the^Se^na^te^{is t}^h^e^f^und^a^m^eⁿ^ta^{l pre}^r^og^a^tiv^e^of^the^m^a^jority^le^a^d^e^r^{, a}^{nd it}^{is d}^one^{in c}^onsul^t^a^{tion w}^{ith t}^h^e
^mⁱ^nor^ity^lea^d^e^r^.”^C^R^S^R^e^por^t⁹⁸^-⁷¹²^,^“H^olds^”ⁱⁿ^the^Se^nate^,^c^oor^dina^te^d^by^W^a^lte^r^J^.^O^l^e^s^z^e^k^.
¹²⁹^If^aⁿ^initia^{l c}^l^oture^m^o^tio^{n is}^not^a^g^re^e^d^{to, sup}^por^te^rs^of^theⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^tio^{n a}^r^e^no^{t pre}^c^l^u^d^e^d^f^r^om^f^ili^ng^a^dditi^ona^l
^c^l^otur^e^m^o^tions^to^lim^{it de}^ba^te^aⁿ^{d f}^o^r^c^e^a^v^o^te^{on t}^h^eⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^tion.

unless the Senator thought his or her own candidate search would likely produce an even more
qualified nominee.
A Senator also might not wish to oppose a particular nomination if it might project to the public a
picture of the Senator as “obstructionist” or unduly antagonistic in relation to the Administration.
Particularly, under certain circumstances, opposing a President’s judicial nomination might be
seen as unduly negative. For instance, if the Senator’s objections to the nominee are purely
procedural in nature (in essence, that the Administration afforded the Senator little or no
opportunity to provide input prior to the candidate’s being nominated), the Senator might see the
merits of opposing the nominee on these grounds as outweighed if the Senator finds no fault with
the nominee and if the public is also likely to look favorably or sympathetically upon the
nominee.
Sometimes a consideration not to oppose a home state judicial nomination might be the likelihood
of more judicial vacancies arising in the Senator’s state in the near future. A Senator might see
these future vacancies as providing a better opportunity for exerting senatorial influence over
judicial appointments than is possible by opposing someone whom the President has already
nominated. Further, by not opposing a particular home state nomination, the Senator might be in a
position to gain goodwill with the Administration, from which the latter might well be moved to
afford the Senator a more enhanced role in the selection process for future home state judicial
nominees.
A final consideration for not actively opposing a judicial nominee is that this option would not
necessarily preclude the Senator from expressing criticisms of the current nominee or of the
process used in his or her selection. While refraining from opposing the nominee, the Senator
would be free to call on the Administration to “do better” with its next judicial nomination from
the Senator’s state. The Senator also could suggest ways of improving the consultative process
between the Senator and the Administration in the search for future lower court nominees, as well
as the kind of qualities that the Senator deemed important for the future nominees to possess. This
approach, it could be argued, would put the Administration on notice that public criticism of, and
possible opposition to, the next judicial nominee from that state could be expected, if more
attention were not paid in the future to the Senator’s views during the nominee selection process.

Home state Senators have long played an important role in providing advice to Presidents on
judicial appointments. Historically Presidents have generally been more receptive to such advice
when it has come from Senators of their own party rather than of the opposition party.
Nevertheless, presidential administrations have long recognized that pre-nomination consultation
with opposition party home state Senators also is important, serving, at the very least, as a means
to learn Senators’ views about potential nominees (and whether they would be likely to return
positive blue slips to the Judiciary Committee if certain candidates were nominated).
In recent decades, despite periodic controversies over judicial nominations, the idea that there
should be consultation on judicial appointments between an administration and home state
Senators, regardless of their party, appears to have gained widespread acceptance. As discussed

earlier, various chairs and other members of the Judiciary Committee, in correspondence with the ¹³⁰
White House between 1989 and 2001, declared the importance of such consultation.
Specifically, these letters expressed the expectation that the Administration engage in consultation
with home state Senators of both parties that is “in good faith,” “serious,” and two-way. Senators,
the letters said, should not only provide feedback on judicial candidates under Administration
consideration but also have the opportunity to make their own candidate recommendations. The
letters also called for consultation to include a number of specified sequential steps, to keep
Senators informed and involved throughout the Administration’s judicial selection process.
Recent administrations have not publicly challenged these expectations; indeed, the White House
counsel to President George W. Bush, in a 2001 letter, indicated his general acceptance of ¹³¹
them.
During the nation’s two most recent presidencies, however, Senators, usually of the opposition
party, have sometimes questioned the adequacy of Administration consultation with home state
Senators in the lower court selection process. In 1997, for instance, during the presidency of
William J. Clinton, Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), then-chairman of the Judiciary Committee,
drew attention to questions that he said had been raised about the Clinton Administration’s “level
of consultation” with home state Senators on lower court appointments:
^Whⁱ^l^e^w^e^{are on}^t^h^{e s}^u^bj^ect^of^j^u^di^ci^alⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tⁱ^on^s^,^I^w^o^u^l^{d l}ⁱ^k^{e t}^o^res^pon^{d t}^o^s^o^m^e^of^my
^colleag^u^e^s^w^h^o^h^a^v^e^co^m^e^to^m^e^{to ex}^pres^s^th^ei^r^f^r^us^tration^th^{at t}^h^e^y^h^a^v^eⁿ^o^{t recei}^v^e^{d th}^e
^lev^e^{l of con}^s^u^ltatⁱ^on^t^h^{at t}^h^e^y^h^a^v^e^ex^{pected, an}^{d t}^y^pⁱ^call^y^receiv^e^{d, reg}^a^rdin^{g n}^o^mⁱⁿ^ees
^f^r^o^m^t^h^{eir s}^t^a^t^es^{. It h}^a^s^long^be^en^t^h^{e polic}^y^of^t^h^e^Sen^a^{te, a}^{nd of}^th^e^C^o^m^m^{ittee, t}^h^{at a}^f^a^ir,
^ef^fi^ci^ent^aⁿ^{d cooperat}ⁱ^v^{e conf}ⁱ^r^m^a^tⁱ^{on proces}^sⁱ^s^bes^t^ac^hⁱ^e^v^e^d^w^h^eⁿ^t^h^{e E}^x^ecu^tⁱ^v^e^Bran^ch
^en^g^a^g^e^sⁱⁿ^g^eⁿ^uⁱⁿ^{e, g}^{ood f}^aⁱ^t^h^con^s^u^l^t^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^wⁱ^t^h^h^o^m^e^s^t^a^t^{e s}^eⁿ^a^t^o^rsⁱⁿ^t^h^{e proces}^s^of¹³²
^d^e^ter^mⁱⁿⁱⁿ^g^w^h^o^m^toⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^a^t^e^f^o^r^j^u^dⁱ^{cial p}^o^s^itioⁿ^s^.
Several years later, Senator Hatch, who had been chairman of the Judiciary Committee during the
last six years of the Clinton Administration, explained what had happened to some of the judges
nominated by President Clinton who were not confirmed. “Seventeen of those,” Senator Hatch
said, “lacked home state support, which often resulted from the White House’s failure to consult
with home state senators. There was no way to confirm those nominations without completely ¹³³
ignoring the senatorial courtesy we afford to home state Senators in the nomination process.”

¹³⁰^Se^e^m^o^re^de^ta^ile^{d disc}^ussioⁿ^of^t^h^e^s^e^le^tte^{rs in a}^b^ov^e^re^{port se}^c^tio^{n o}ⁿ^“^B^lue^Slip^P^o^lic^y^of^Se^na^te^J^udicⁱ^a^r^y
^Co^mmⁱ^t^t^ee.^”
¹³¹^A^l^be^r^t^{o R}^.^G^onz^a^l^e^s^{, c}^ouns^e^l^{to t}^h^e^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t^,^to^Se^n.^P^a^tr^ic^k^J^.^L^e^a^h^y^a^{nd othe}^r^D^e^m^o^c^r^a^tic^m^e^m^b^er^s^of^Se^na^te
^Ju^dⁱ^ci^ary^Co^mmⁱ^t^t^ee,^M^a^y²^,²⁰⁰¹^.^(Cop^y^avai^l^a^b^l^e^f^r^o^m^au^t^h^o^r^.⁾^G^oⁿ^zal^es^w^r^o^t^{e t}^o^t^h^{e Dem}^o^cratⁱ^c^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^{rs t}^h^at^“w^e
^gen^e^ral^l^y^a^g^ree^wⁱ^t^h^y^o^u^r^sp^eci^fⁱ^c^su^ggestⁱ^oⁿ^s^f^o^{r keep}ⁱⁿ^{g h}^o^m^{e st}^a^t^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^{rs i}ⁿ^f^o^rm^ed^an^d^seekiⁿ^g^t^h^ei^{r ad}^vi^ce.^{” He}
^a^dde^{d t}^h^a^tⁱⁿ^“^a^{ll c}^a^s^e^s^{, y}^ou^m^a^y^be^c^e^r^ta^{in tha}^t^w^e^w^{ill w}^o^rk^ha^{rd to e}ⁿ^sure^tha^t^hom^e^sta^t^e^Se^na^{tors w}^{ill ha}^v^e^a
^s^u^ita^ble^o^p^p^o^r^t^unity^{to e}^x^pr^e^s^s^th^eⁱ^r^vⁱ^ew^s^c^onc^e^r^ning^pos^sⁱ^bleⁿ^o^m^ine^e^s^w^e^{ll in a}^d^v^a^nc^e^of^nom^ina^tion.”
¹³²^Se^{n. O}^r^rⁱ^{n G}^.^H^a^tc^{h, “}^S^ta^te^m^e^{nt of}^Se^{n. O}^r^rⁱⁿ^H^a^tc^h,”^ne^w^s^r^e^le^a^s^e^,^A^p^r^{il 17,}¹⁹⁹⁷^{. (}^C^opy^a^v^a^ila^bl^e^f^r^o^m^a^u^thor^.)
¹³³^Se^{n. Orri}^{n G}^.^Ha^tc^{h, “}^N^om^ina^tio^{n of}^Mig^u^e^l^A^.^Estra^d^a^,^of^Vⁱ^rgⁱⁿ^ia^{, T}^o^Be^Unite^d^Sta^t^e^s^Circ^{uit J}^u^dg^e^f^o^{r the}
^Distric^t^of^Colum^b^ia^Circ^uit,”^C^o^ngr^e^s^sⁱ^on^{al Re}^c^o^r^d^{, v}^o^l^.¹^49,^Ma^r^c^{h 3,}²⁰⁰³^{, p}^.⁴⁹³³^.

During the current presidency of George W. Bush, Senators, mostly along party lines, have
periodically debated whether the Administration has adequately consulted with home state
Senators before President Bush selected his nominees. Democratic leaders in the Senate have
asserted that the Bush Administration frequently has not consulted with, or heeded the advice of,
their party’s home state Senators before the President made judicial nominations. As a result of
not receiving senatorial input, or receiving but not heeding it, the President, they maintained, has ¹³⁴
made unwise, controversial nominations, provoking Democratic opposition in the Senate.
Senate Republicans, by contrast, have defended the Bush Administration, portraying it as having
regularly consulted with Senators regarding judicial nominations in their states, while faulting
opposition party Senators for seeking, through the consultative process, the power to select whom
the President nominates, rather than solely making recommendations or expressing opinions ¹³⁵
about candidates under presidential consideration.
During two Congresses coinciding with the Bush presidency (the 108^th and the 109^th)
Congresses), the President’s party, the Republicans, had majority control of the Senate. During ^th
the 108 Congress, the blue slip policy of the Senate Judiciary Committee then in effect did not
prevent committee consideration of, or action on, five circuit court nominations that were ¹³⁶
ultimately reported to the Senate in spite of opposition by Democratic home state Senators. In
the Senate, however, in the face of significant opposition from Democratic Members, none of the ¹³⁷
five nominees received final confirmation votes (although three were subsequently confirmed,

¹³⁴^In^t^hⁱ^s^veiⁿ^,^t^h^{e ran}^kⁱⁿ^{g Dem}^o^cr^atⁱ^c^me^m^b^{er o}ⁿ^t^h^e^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^Ju^di^ci^ar^y^Co^mmi^t^t^ee,^at^{a Ju}ⁿ^e¹⁷^,²⁰⁰⁴^,^execu^tⁱ^v^e
^busine^{ss m}^e^e^ting^of^the^c^o^m^m^itte^e^,^note^d^tha^t^a^c^ontr^o^v^e^rsia^{l nom}^ine^e^{to t}^h^e^U^.^S^.^C^o^ur^t^of^A^ppe^a^l^s^f^o^r^the^Six^t^h
^Circ^{uit a}^b^out^to^be^v^o^te^d^oⁿ^by^th^e^c^o^m^m^ittee^w^a^s^oppos^e^d^by^Mic^h^ig^aⁿ^’s^tw^{o D}^e^m^o^c^r^a^tic^Se^na^tors^(w^ho^each
^re^turne^d^a^ne^g^a^tiv^e^blue^slip^to^th^e^c^o^m^m^itte^e⁾^{. Both}^of^the^s^e^Se^na^t^o^{rs ha}^d^“^a^tte^m^p^te^{d to w}^o^rk^w^{ith the}^W^h^ite^House^t^o
^of^fe^{r the}ⁱ^{r a}^d^vⁱ^c^e^,^but^theⁱ^{r i}ⁿ^p^u^t^w^a^{s re}^je^c^t^e^d^.”^Sta^t^e^m^eⁿ^{t of}^Se^n.^P^a^tric^k^{J. L}^e^a^h^y^,^“^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^Judicⁱ^a^r^y^Co^m^m^itte^e^,
^E^x^ecu^tⁱ^v^{e Bu}^siⁿ^e^{ss M}^eetⁱⁿ^g,^T^h^{e S}^aad^No^mⁱⁿ^a^tⁱ^o^n,^{” Ju}ⁿ^e¹⁷^,²⁰⁰⁴^.^(Cop^y^avai^l^a^b^l^e^f^r^o^m^au^t^h^o^r^.⁾^Sⁱ^mⁱ^l^a^rl^y^,ⁱⁿ^{a 2}⁰⁰⁵
^le^tte^{r to t}^h^e^Se^na^te^Re^p^ubl^ic^aⁿ^m^a^jority^le^a^d^e^r^{, the}^Se^na^te^De^m^o^cr^atⁱ^c^l^ead^{er mai}ⁿ^t^aⁱⁿ^ed^t^h^at^“^[^o]^{ver t}^h^{e l}^a^st^f^o^u^r^y^ears
^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t B}^u^s^h^t^o^o^of^te^{n f}^a^ile^{d to}^s^e^e^k^the^a^d^vⁱ^c^e^of^the^Se^na^te^be^f^o^r^e^m^a^kⁱ^ng^unw^is^e^nom^ina^tions^,^a^{nd D}^e^m^o^c^r^a^t^s
^la^c^k^e^d^aⁿ^y^m^e^aⁿ^s^s^{hort of}^a^f^ilibu^s^te^{r to c}^a^rry^{out our}^d^u^ty^unde^{r t}^h^e^A^d^vⁱ^s^e^a^{nd Co}^ns^eⁿ^{t Cla}^u^s^e^of^the^Cons^t^itutⁱ^oⁿ^.”
^Se^{n. Ha}^rry^Re^{id, Se}^na^te^De^m^o^c^r^a^tic^le^a^d^e^r^{, le}^tte^{r to}^Se^n.^W^illia^m^F^r^{ist, Se}^na^te^m^a^jority^le^a^d^e^r^{, Ma}^y^10,²⁰⁰⁵^{. (Co}^p^y
^avai^l^a^b^l^{e f}^r^o^m^au^t^h^o^r^.⁾
¹³⁵^Se^e^,^f^o^{r insta}ⁿ^c^e^,^t^h^e^re^m^a^r^k^{s of}^Se^{n. Orri}^{n G}^.^Ha^tc^{h (R-UT}⁾^{, the}ⁿ^-c^ha^{ir of}^the^Ju^dicⁱ^a^r^y^Co^m^m^itte^e^,^du^ring^Se^na^te
^f^l^oor^de^ba^teⁱⁿ²⁰⁰³^{on a}^cⁱ^r^c^u^{it c}^our^t^nom^ina^tioⁿ^op^pos^e^d^by^the^m^a^jor^ity^of^Se^na^te^D^e^m^o^c^r^a^t^s^,^du^rⁱ^ng^w^h^ic^{h Se}^n.
^H^a^tc^{h s}^a^{id: “}^I^th^ink^s^o^m^e^of^our^c^o^lle^a^g^ue^s^{on t}^h^e^o^t^he^r^sⁱ^de^w^a^{nt t}^o^c^h^o^o^s^e^the^s^e^j^udg^e^s^{, a}^{nd w}^e^a^r^e^fⁱ^nding^tha^t
^coⁿ^tⁱⁿ^uo^u^s^l^yⁱⁿ^t^h^ei^{r argu}^m^eⁿ^t^s,^t^h^at^t^h^{e ad}^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^doe^{s n}^o^{t ‘c}^onsul^{t’ w}^{ith the}^m^{. If}^c^onsulta^tioⁿ^m^e^aⁿ^{s the}
^ad^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^h^a^{s t}^o^t^a^{ke w}^h^at^ev^{er j}^u^d^g^{es t}^h^{e Dem}^o^crat^{s d}^e^si^re^{, tha}^t^{is not}^c^ons^ulta^ti^on.^Co^nsulta^ti^oⁿ^{is le}^tti^ng^the^m
^k^now^w^h^a^t^is^on^the^mⁱ^nd^of^the^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t, a}^{nd t}^h^e^a^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^tioⁿ^dis^c^us^sⁱ^ng^{it w}^{ith t}^h^e^m^{, s}^e^eⁱ^ng^if^the^y^ha^v^e^aⁿ^y^r^e^a^l
^o^b^j^ectⁱ^oⁿ^s^t^o^t^h^{e ch}^oⁱ^{ces o}^f^t^h^e^P^r^esi^d^en^t^,^askiⁿ^g^t^h^em^t^o^w^eⁱ^g^hⁱⁿ^an^d^gi^{ve t}^h^{e ad}^mⁱⁿⁱ^st^ratⁱ^oⁿ^w^h^at^ev^{er i}ⁿ^f^o^rm^atⁱ^oⁿ
^t^h^ey^can^,^an^d^t^h^{en m}^a^kiⁿ^g^t^h^{e cho}ⁱ^{ce an}^d^goⁱⁿ^{g f}^r^o^m^t^h^ere.^T^h^atⁱ^s^coⁿ^s^u^l^t^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^.^{” S}^e^n.^Orri^{n G}^.^Hat^c^h^,^“No^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^o^{n o}^f
^Mig^u^e^l^A^.^Estra^d^a^,^of^Vⁱ^rgⁱⁿ^ia^{, T}^o^Be^Unite^{d Sta}^t^e^s^Circ^ui^{t Ju}^dg^e^,^f^o^{r the}^Distric^t^of^Col^u^m^b^ia^Circ^uit,”^Co^ng^ressioⁿ^a^l
^R^eco^rd^,^v^o^l.¹^49,^Fe^b.¹²^,²⁰^03,^{p. 3}⁵⁴⁴^.
¹³⁶^A^v^ai^l^a^b^l^{e o}ⁿ^t^h^{e w}^e^b^sⁱ^t^e^o^f^t^h^{e U.}^S^.^Dep^a^rt^m^eⁿ^t^o^f^Ju^stⁱ^{ce’s Off}ⁱ^{ce o}^f^L^e^gal^P^o^lⁱ^c^y^{are l}ⁱ^s^t^s^sh^o^wⁱⁿ^g,^f^o^{r each}
^cⁱ^r^c^{uit a}ⁿ^d^dis^t^rⁱ^c^t^c^our^tⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^{tion i}ⁿ^t^h^e¹⁰⁷^th^an^{d 10}⁸^th^Coⁿ^g^ress,^w^h^et^h^e^{r t}^h^{e ho}^m^e^st^at^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^{rs ret}^u^rn^ed^a^b^l^u^e
^{slip a}ⁿ^{d w}^h^e^t^he^{r the}^blue^sli^p^w^a^s^“^positiv^e^”^{or “}ⁿ^e^g^a^tiv^e^.^”^(Com^pa^ra^ble^bl^ue^{slip i}ⁿ^f^o^rm^a^{tion is n}^o^t^a^v^a^ila^ble^{on the}^th^th
^w^e^bsite^f^o^{r the}¹⁰⁹^a^nd¹¹⁰^Coⁿ^g^{resses.) See h}^ttp^://w^ww^.u^sd^o^j^.g^o^v^/o^lp^/^b^l^u^eslip^s/^h^t^m^,^acce^ssed^oⁿ^Feb^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^.^th
^D^u^rⁱ^ng^the¹⁰⁸^Cong^re^{ss, the}^w^e^bsite^show^{s, tha}^t^“ⁿ^e^g^a^tiv^e^”^blue^{slips w}^e^re^re^turne^d^to^the^J^udicⁱ^a^r^y^Co^m^m^itte^e^f^o^r
^the^cⁱ^r^c^{uit c}^o^ur^t^nom^ina^tio^ns^of^Rⁱ^c^h^a^r^{d A}^.^G^rⁱ^f^fⁱ^{n, D}^a^vⁱ^{d W}^.^Mc^K^e^a^g^ue^{, Sus}^a^{n B}^.^N^e^ils^oⁿ^{, a}^{nd H}^eⁿ^r^y^{S. Sa}^a^d⁽^a^{ll of}
^Mⁱ^chⁱ^g^an^{) and}^t^h^at^on^{e h}^o^m^{e st}^at^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^o^r^d^eclⁱⁿ^ed^t^o^ret^u^rn^a^b^l^{ue sl}ⁱ^p^f^o^{r t}^h^{e ci}^rcui^t^cou^r^tⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^o^{n o}^f^Caro^l^yⁿ^B.
^Kuhl^of^Ca^lif^ornia^(w^{ith the}^ot^he^r^Se^na^tor^ha^vⁱ^ng^“^r^e^s^e^r^v^e^{d judg}^e^m^eⁿ^t”^{). Notw}^ithstaⁿ^dⁱ^ng^the^a^b^se^nc^e^of^positiv^e^bl^ue
^s^lips^f^r^om^theⁱ^r^hom^e^s^t^a^t^e^Se^na^tor^s^{, the}^fⁱ^v^e^nom^ina^tions^a^{ll w}^e^r^e^cons^ide^r^e^d^aⁿ^d^r^e^por^te^{d by}^the^Seⁿ^a^te^J^udicⁱ^a^r^y
^C^o^m^m^itte^e^.^Se^e^A^ppe^ndix^{3 in C}^R^{S R}^e^por^t^R^L³¹⁸⁶⁸^,^U^.^S^.^Cⁱ^r^c^uit^an^{d D}ⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^C^our^{t N}^o^mⁱⁿ^a^ti^ons^by^Pr^e^s^ideⁿ^t^th^th
^G^e^or^ge^W^.^Bus^h^D^u^rⁱⁿ^g^t^h^e¹⁰⁷^-1⁰⁹^C^o^ngr^e^s^s^e^s^{, by}^D^e^nis^Ste^v^eⁿ^R^u^tk^us^{, K}^e^vⁱⁿ^{M. Sc}^{ott, a}^nd^Ma^ur^e^eⁿ^B^e^a^r^de^n.
¹³⁷^Iⁿ^t^h^e^c^a^s^e^of^f^our^of^the^nom^ina^tions^{, m}^o^tio^ns^w^e^r^e^m^a^de^b^y^Se^na^te^R^e^publ^ic^aⁿ^s^{to c}^l^os^e^de^ba^te^,^bu^{t the}^s^e^m^o^tions
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

during the 109^th Congress).¹³⁸ Also during the 108^th Congress, long-running consultations
between the White House and one state’s Democratic Senators failed to reach an agreement over
whom from that state to nominate for circuit judgeships. The President was criticized by Senate ¹³⁹¹⁴⁰
Democrats, but defended by Senate Republicans, for not agreeing to a proposal offered by
the two home state Senators as a compromise. Under their proposal, a bipartisan judicial
nomination commission would be established, with the President selecting circuit court nominees
from names recommended by the commission.
During the 109^th Congress, with Republicans again in the Senate majority (but with the Judiciary
Committee under a different chair), no instances were reported of district or circuit nominations
receiving committee action in the absence of favorable blue slips returned to the committee by
home state Senators. Senate Republicans and Democrats, however, clashed over other judicial
nominations and over the propriety of using filibusters on the Senate floor to prevent Senate votes ¹⁴¹
on those nominations. In May 2005, leaders of the Senate’s Republican majority announced
their intention, if Senate Democrats continued to seek to prevent confirmation votes on several
circuit court nominees, to change the chamber’s rules or precedents to require the vote of only a ¹⁴²
simple Senate majority to end Senate debate on judicial nominations.
A Senate confrontation over judicial filibusters was averted on May 23, 2005, when an agreement
was reached by a coalition of seven Democratic and seven Republican Senators. As part of the
agreement, the Senators in the coalition pledged not to lend their support to filibusters against
judicial nominations except under “extraordinary circumstances,” and not to support any change
in the Senate rules to bar filibusters against judicial nominations, as long as the “spirit and
continuing commitments made in this agreement” were kept by all of the Senators in the ¹⁴³
coalition. As a result of this agreement, some, but not all, of the President’s most controversial

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^pr^ov^e^d^uⁿ^s^u^c^c^e^s^s^f^{ul. T}^h^e^Se^na^te⁽^a^s^dis^c^us^s^e^{d a}^bov^e⁾^c^aⁿ^c^l^os^e^de^ba^te^by^pa^s^sⁱ^ng^a^c^l^otur^e^m^o^tion,^w^h^ic^{h r}^e^quir^e^s^a^th
^s^upe^r^-^m^a^j^or^it^y^of^thr^e^e^-^fⁱ^f^t^hs^of^t^h^e^Se^na^te^,^or⁶⁰^Me^m^b^e^r^s^,^v^o^ting^{in f}^a^v^o^r^.^D^u^rⁱ^ng^t^h^e¹⁰⁸^C^o^ng^r^e^s^s^,^the^r^e^w^e^r^e¹⁰
^ci^rcuⁱ^t^no^mⁱⁿ^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^oⁿ^w^hⁱ^c^h^t^h^e^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^,^on^on^{e o}^r^m^o^{re o}^ccasi^oⁿ^s^,^vo^t^e^d^no^t^t^o^cl^o^s^{e d}^e^b^a^t^e^,ⁱⁿ^cl^udⁱⁿ^{g t}^h^e
^nom^ina^tions^of^C^a^r^o^ly^{n B}^.^K^uhl,^Rⁱ^c^h^a^r^{d A}^.^G^rⁱ^f^fⁱ^{n, D}^a^vⁱ^{d W}^.^Mc^K^e^a^g^ue^{, a}^{nd H}^e^nr^y^{S. Sa}^a^d^{. T}^h^e^num^be^r^of^v^o^te^s
^cast^t^o^cl^o^s^{e d}^e^b^a^t^e^oⁿ^t^h^{ese f}^o^u^rⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^atⁱ^oⁿ^s^,ⁱⁿ^each^case,^f^e^l^l^sh^o^r^t^o^f⁶⁰^.^N^o^f^l^o^o^r^vo^t^e^o^f^an^y^kiⁿ^d^,^pro^ced^u^r^al^o^r^oⁿ^th
^w^h^e^t^he^r^{to c}^onf^ir^m^,^w^a^s^c^a^s^t^by^t^h^e^Se^na^te^d^u^rⁱ^ng^t^h^e¹⁰⁸^C^o^ng^r^e^s^s^{on the}^fⁱ^f^t^{h n}^o^mⁱ^na^{tion c}^ite^dⁱⁿ^the^pr^e^v^ious
^f^ootnote^,^Sus^aⁿ^B^.^N^e^ils^oⁿ^.^Se^e^A^ppe^ndix^{3 i}ⁿ^C^R^S^R^e^por^t^R^L³¹⁸⁶⁸^,^U^.^{S. C}ⁱ^r^c^ui^{t a}ⁿ^d^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^C^o^ur^{t N}^o^mⁱ^nati^ons^by^th^th
^Pre^s^ideⁿ^{t Ge}^orge^W^.^B^u^{sh D}^u^rin^g^the¹⁰⁷^-1⁰⁹^C^o^ngr^e^s^s^e^s^.
¹³⁸^Of^t^h^{e f}ⁱ^v^e^a^f^o^r^e^m^en^tⁱ^oⁿ^e^dⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^ees,^t^h^{e t}^h^{ree w}^h^o^recei^ved^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^coⁿ^fⁱ^r^matⁱ^oⁿⁱⁿ^t^h^{e 1}⁰⁹^th^Coⁿ^g^ress^w^e^re
^Rⁱ^c^h^a^r^{d A}^.^G^rⁱ^f^fⁱ^{n, D}^a^vⁱ^{d W}^.^Mc^K^e^a^g^ue^{, a}^{nd Sus}^a^{n B}^.^N^e^ils^oⁿ^{. S}^e^e^A^ppe^ndix^{1 i}ⁿ^C^R^S^R^e^p^o^r^t^R^L³¹⁸⁶⁸^,^U^.^{S. C}ⁱ^r^c^ui^t^th^th
^and^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^C^o^ur^{t N}^o^mⁱ^na^tio^ns^b^y^Pr^e^s^ideⁿ^{t G}^e^or^ge^W^.^B^u^s^h^D^u^rⁱ^{ng t}^h^e¹⁰⁷^-1⁰⁹^C^o^ng^resses.
¹³⁹^S^ee,^f^o^{r exa}^m^p^l^e,^S^eⁿ^.^Deb^bⁱ^e^S^t^ab^en^o^w^,^“Ju^dⁱ^ci^al^No^mⁱⁿ^ees,^”^C^ongr^e^s^sⁱ^on^{al Re}^c^o^r^d^{, v}^o^l^.¹^49,^J^u^l^y^{16, 20}^03,^p.
¹⁸²¹²^.
¹⁴⁰^Se^e^,^f^o^{r e}^x^a^m^ple^,^Se^{n. Bill}^Frist,^“^S^ta^lle^{d Nom}ⁱ^na^{tions f}^o^{r t}^h^e^Six^t^{h Circ}^uit^,^”^C^o^ngr^e^s^sⁱ^on^{al Re}^c^o^r^d^{, v}^o^l.¹⁴^{9, J}^u^ly
^{16, 20}⁰³^,^p^p^{. 18}²⁰^7-¹⁸²¹¹^.
¹⁴¹^S^ee,^f^o^{r exa}^m^p^l^e,^Carl^Hu^l^s^e,^“Fⁱ^lⁱ^b^u^s^t^e^r^Fⁱ^gh^t^{Nears S}^h^o^w^d^o^wⁿ^,^”^Th^{e New Yo}^{rk T}ⁱ^mes^{, Ma}^y^{8, 20}⁰⁵^{, p}^p^.^1,^19;
^Cha^r^le^{s Ba}^bing^to^{n, “}^C^la^{sh Ov}^e^r^Judi^cⁱ^a^l^F^ilib^uste^{rs Ne}^a^r^{s Boiling}^Poin^t,”^T^h^e^W^a^s^hⁱ^ngt^on^Pos^t^,^Ma^y^{9, 200}^5,^{p. A}^21;
^a^{nd B}^ill^Sa^m^m^{on a}^{nd C}^h^a^r^le^s^H^u^r^t^{, “}^B^us^{h R}^a^ps^J^u^dⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^Fili^bus^te^r^,^”^The^W^a^s^hⁱ^ngt^on^Tim^e^s^{, Ma}^y¹⁰^{, 20}⁰⁵^{, p}^.^A^12.
¹⁴²^Sen^a^{te Rep}^u^b^lican^lead^{ers an}ⁿ^o^uⁿ^ced^th^at^th^{eir m}^o^v^e^to^ch^an^g^e^Seⁿ^a^{te p}^r^eced^en^{ts t}^o^b^a^{r f}^ilib^u^s^ters^ag^ain^s^{t ju}^dⁱ^cial
^nom^ina^{tions w}^oul^d^oc^c^u^{r in}^c^oⁿ^j^unc^ti^{on w}^{ith t}^h^eⁱ^{r e}^f^f^o^{rts to}^c^l^ose^f^l^{oor de}^ba^te^oⁿ^t^h^eⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^tion^of^P^r^isc^illa^Ow^eⁿ^to^th
^be^a^U^.^{S. c}ⁱ^r^c^u^{it c}^o^ur^t^of^a^ppe^a^l^s^judg^e^.⁽^A^{n e}^a^r^lie^r^nom^ina^tion^of^O^w^e^{n to t}^h^e^s^a^m^e^judg^e^s^{hip, d}^u^rⁱ^ng^the¹⁰⁸
^C^ong^r^e^s^s^,^ha^d^be^eⁿ^s^u^c^c^e^s^s^f^ull^y^f^ilibus^te^r^e^d^f^our^tim^e^s^by^Se^na^te^D^e^m^o^c^r^a^t^s^.⁾^K^e^ith^P^e^rⁱ^ne^aⁿ^{d D}^a^phne^R^e^tte^r^,
^“^J^udicⁱ^a^l^Sh^ow^dow^{n Sta}^r^ts^w^ith^O^w^e^n,”^{CQ To}^d^a^y^{, v}^o^l^.⁴¹^,^Ma^y^18,²⁰⁰⁵^{, p}^p^.^1,^32.
¹⁴³^C^h^a^r^le^s^B^a^bing^to^{n a}ⁿ^{d S}^h^a^ila^g^h^Mur^r^a^y^,^“A^La^s^t^-^M^inute^D^e^a^l^on^J^udicⁱ^a^l^N^o^mⁱ^na^tio^ns^,”^The^W^a^s^h^ingt^on^Pos^t^,
^Ma^y^{24, 20}^05,^p^p^{. A}¹^{, A}⁴^{. Se}^e^a^l^s^o^C^R^S^R^e^p^o^r^t^R^S²²²⁰^8,^The^“M^e^m^or^and^um^o^f^Uⁿ^de^r^s^t^an^din^g^”:^{A Se}ⁿ^a^te
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

circuit court nominations, which previously had been blocked on the Senate floor, were ¹⁴⁴
confirmed.
The agreement, in the form of a “memorandum of understanding,” also called on the President to
consult with Senators, regardless of their party, on prospective judicial candidates. Specifically,
on this point, the memorandum stated:
^W^e^b^e^liev^e^th^{at, u}ⁿ^d^er^A^r^ticl^e^I^I^,^Sectioⁿ²^,^o^f^th^{e Un}^ited^States^Coⁿ^s^tit^u^tioⁿ^,^t^h^e^w^o^r^d
^“A^d^v^{ice” s}^p^eak^s^{to con}^s^u^ltatⁱ^on^bet^w^eeⁿ^th^{e Se}ⁿ^a^{te an}^{d t}^h^{e P}^r^es^iden^t^wⁱ^t^h^reg^a^{rd to th}^{e u}^s^e
^of^th^{e P}^r^es^iden^t^’^s^po^w^e^{r to m}^a^k^eⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tion^s^{. W}^e^en^co^u^r^ag^{e t}^h^{e Ex}^ec^u^tⁱ^v^{e bran}^c^h^of
^g^o^v^e^rnm^eⁿ^t^{to cons}^u^l^t^wⁱ^t^h^m^e^m^b^er^s^o^f^t^h^e^Sen^a^te,^both^De^{mocratic an}^{d R}^e^p^u^blican^,^prior
^to^su^b^mⁱ^ttiⁿ^g^{a j}^u^dⁱ^{cial n}^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tioⁿ^f^o^r^coⁿ^s^id^er^atioⁿ^.
^Su^c^h^{a ret}^u^{rn to t}^h^{e earl}^y^practices^{of ou}^r^g^o^v^e^rⁿ^m^eⁿ^t^m^a^y^w^e^ll^s^e^r^v^{e to redu}^ce^th^e^ran^c^or¹⁴⁵
^th^{at unf}^ortun^a^tel^y^acco^m^p^anie^s^th^{e adv}ⁱ^{ce a}ⁿ^{d con}^s^eⁿ^{t proces}^s^of^t^h^{e Se}ⁿ^a^te.
Throughout most of the first Congress coinciding with his presidency (the 107^th), President ^th
Bush’s party was not the majority party in the Senate, and it is not the majority party in the 110 ^th
Congress. In the Judiciary Committee during the 107 Congress, five lower court nominees
opposed by home state Senators were among a larger number whose nominations did not advance ¹⁴⁶^th
to the committee hearing stage. Likewise, under the blue slip policy in effect in the 110
Congress, the Judiciary Committee will not consider or act on a judicial nomination if a home ¹⁴⁷
state Senator declines to return a positive blue slip. Further, the chairman of the Judiciary

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^Co^mp^ro^{mise on}^Judⁱ^{cial Fili}^b^u^s^te^rs^{, by}^Wa^lte^r^J^.^O^l^e^s^z^e^k^;^a^{nd C}^R^{S R}^e^por^t^R^L³³⁰⁹⁴^,^C^o^ngr^e^s^s^aⁿ^d^the^C^o^ur^ts^:
^Cu^rren^t^{Policy Issu}^es^{, by}^W^a^lte^r^J^.^O^l^e^s^z^e^k⁽^unde^r^he^a^dⁱⁿ^g^s^“^T^he^Bⁱ^pa^r^tis^aⁿ^A^g^r^e^em^eⁿ^{t: A}^Mem^o^r^a^ndum^of
^U^nde^r^s^ta^ndi^ng^”^a^{nd “}^D^iv^e^r^s^e^D^e^fⁱ^niti^ons^of^‘^E^x^t^r^a^or^dina^r^y^Cⁱ^r^c^um^s^t^aⁿ^c^e^s^’^”⁾^.
¹⁴⁴^Ot^h^e^{r co}^nt^ro^versi^a^lⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^{ees recei}^vedⁿ^o^f^u^rt^h^e^r^S^eⁿ^a^t^e^actⁱ^o^{n du}^rⁱⁿ^g^t^h^{e rest}^o^f^t^h^e¹⁰⁹^th^C^ong^r^e^s^s^,^a^{nd f}^our^of
^the^m^w^e^r^e^{not r}^e^-^nom^ina^t^e^dⁱⁿ^th^e¹¹⁰^th^C^o^ng^r^e^s^s^.^Se^e^D^a^vⁱ^{d G}^.^Sa^v^a^g^e^a^{nd H}^e^nr^y^W^e^ins^t^eⁱ^{n, “}⁴^W^h^ite^Fla^g^s^Flyⁱⁿ
^{Courts F}ⁱ^g^h^{t; W}^ith^the^Se^na^te^{in t}^h^e^Ha^nds^of^De^m^o^c^r^a^t^s,^t^h^{e M}^o^st^Coⁿ^t^r^o^versi^a^l^o^f^Bu^sh^{’s Jud}ⁱ^ci^al^No^mⁱⁿ^ees^A^r^e
^W^ithdr^a^w^n,”^L^o^{s Ang}^e^{les T}ⁱ^mes^{, J}^a^n.¹⁰^{, 200}^{7, p.}^A¹²^.
¹⁴⁵^Se^{th S}^t^e^r^{n, “}^D^e^c^ons^tr^uc^ting^t^h^e^Se^na^te^’^s^Bⁱ^pa^r^tis^aⁿ^D^e^a^l^oⁿ^J^u^dicⁱ^a^l^N^o^mⁱ^na^tions^,”^{CQ T}^o^d^a^y^{, v}^o^l.^41,^Ma^y^25,
²⁰⁰^5,^p.³¹^{. T}^h^e^f^u^{ll te}^x^t^of^the^m^e^m^o^r^a^ndum^of^unde^r^s^taⁿ^d^ing^c^aⁿ^be^f^oun^{d i}ⁿ^t^h^e^Co^ng^ressioⁿ^a^l^R^eco^rd^{, da}^ily
^e^d^itio^{n, v}^o^l^.¹⁵¹^,^Ma^y^24,²⁰^05,^p^p^{. S}⁵⁸^30-^S⁵⁸³^1.
¹⁴⁶^Blue^slip^inf^o^rm^a^{tion f}^o^{r the}¹⁰⁷^th^C^ong^r^e^s^s^pos^te^{d o}ⁿ^t^h^e^U^.^{S. D}^e^pa^r^t^m^e^{nt of}^J^u^s^tic^e^w^e^bs^ite^ha^s^lis^te^{d f}ⁱ^v^e^cⁱ^r^c^uit
^c^our^t^nom^ina^tions^a^nd^one^dis^t^rⁱ^c^t^c^our^tⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^{tion f}^o^r^w^h^ic^{h o}ⁿ^e^or^b^o^th^h^o^m^e^s^t^a^t^e^Se^na^tor^s^r^e^turⁿ^e^d^a^ne^g^a^tiv^e^blue
^{slip or}^de^c^line^d^to^re^turⁿ^a^p^o^sitiv^e^blue^sli^p^{. T}^h^e^s^e^sp^e^cⁱ^fⁱ^c^a^l^l^y^we^r^e^the^cⁱ^rc^{uit c}^o^urt^nom^ina^tio^{ns of}^T^e^rre^nc^e^W^.
^B^o^y^l^e^of^N^o^r^t^{h C}^a^r^o^lina^,^C^a^r^o^ly^{n B}^.^K^u^{hl of}^C^a^lif^or^nia^,^aⁿ^{d D}^a^vⁱ^d^W^.^Mc^K^e^a^g^ue^{, Sus}^a^{n B}^.^N^e^ils^oⁿ^,^a^{nd H}^eⁿ^r^y^W^.
^Saad^{, all o}^f^Mich^ig^an^{, an}^d^th^e^dⁱ^s^t^{rict co}^u^r^tⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tioⁿ^o^f^Ja^m^e^{s C}^.^Dev^e^{r III o}^f^No^rth^Caro^liⁿ^a^{. See}
^h^t^t^p^:^/^/^www^.^u^sd^o^j^.^g^o^v^/^o^l^p^/^b^l^u^eslⁱ^p^s^/^h^t^m^,^access^e^d^F^e^b^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^.^In^t^h^{e ab}^sen^{ce o}^f^p^o^sⁱ^tⁱ^v^{e b}^l^u^e^slⁱ^p^s^f^r^o^m^b^o^t^h^h^o^m^e^th
^s^t^a^t^e^Se^na^tor^s^{, n}^one^of^the^s^e^fⁱ^v^e^nom^ina^tions^w^a^s^c^ons^ide^r^e^d^by^the^J^udicⁱ^a^r^y^C^o^m^m^itte^e^dur^ing^the¹⁰⁷^Con^g^ress.
^Se^e^A^ppe^ndic^e^s^{2 a}ⁿ^{d 4}^{in C}^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^L³¹⁸⁶^8,^U^.^{S. C}ⁱ^r^c^u^it^an^{d D}ⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^C^o^ur^{t N}^o^mⁱ^na^tio^ns^by^Pr^e^s^ideⁿ^{t G}^e^or^ge^W^.^th^th
^Bu^sh^D^u^ring^th^e¹⁰⁷^-1⁰⁹^Cong^resses^{. T}^h^e^fⁱ^v^e^w^e^r^e^am^ong¹²^cⁱ^r^c^{uit c}^our^{t n}^o^mⁱ^ne^e^s^a^{nd 1}⁵^dis^t^rⁱ^c^t^c^our^t^nom^ine^e^s
^f^a^ilin^g^to^b^e^coⁿ^f^ir^m^e^d^w^h^o^dⁱ^dⁿ^o^{t receiv}^e^{a h}^earin^g^d^u^rⁱⁿ^g^th^{e Co}ⁿ^g^{ress, w}^h^{ile 1}⁷^o^t^h^e^{r circu}^{it c}^o^u^r^{t an}^d⁸³^o^t^h^e^r
^dⁱ^st^ri^ct^cou^r^tⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^{ees d}^u^rⁱⁿ^{g t}^h^e^Coⁿ^g^{ress d}ⁱ^{d recei}^{ve S}^eⁿ^a^t^e^coⁿ^fⁱ^r^m^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^.^S^{ee Ib}ⁱ^d^.^,^uⁿ^d^e^{r t}^h^e^h^eadⁱⁿ^{gs “}^P^resi^d^eⁿ^t
^B^u^s^h^’^s^Cⁱ^r^c^ui^{t C}^o^ur^{t N}^o^mⁱ^na^tion^s^D^u^rⁱ^ng^P^a^r^tic^u^l^a^r^C^ong^r^e^s^s^e^s^,^”^a^{nd “}^P^r^e^sⁱ^deⁿ^t^B^u^s^h^’^s^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^C^o^ur^{t N}^o^mⁱ^na^tio^ns
^D^u^rⁱ^ng^P^a^r^tic^ula^r^C^ong^r^e^s^s^e^s^.^”^For^aⁿ^a^l^y^s^is^of^the^kⁱ^{nd of}^op^posⁱ^tⁱ^{on t}^h^a^t^P^r^e^sⁱ^d^eⁿ^{t G}^e^or^g^e^W^.^B^u^s^h^’^s^low^e^r^c^our^t^th
^nom^ina^tions^eⁿ^c^o^uⁿ^te^r^e^{d i}ⁿ^t^h^e^S^e^na^te^durⁱⁿ^g^the¹⁰⁷^C^ong^r^e^s^s^,^inc^l^ud^ing^us^e^of^the^J^udicⁱ^a^r^y^C^o^m^m^itte^e^’^s^blue^s^lip
^p^r^o^ced^u^r^e^to^p^r^ev^en^{t n}^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tioⁿ^s^f^r^o^m^receivⁱⁿ^g^co^mm^itte^{e co}ⁿ^s^id^eratioⁿ^,^{see Jo}ⁿ^a^th^an^G^r^oⁿ^e^{r, “A}^M^a^jo^{r S}^h^if^{t in}^t^h^e
^Ba^ttle^f^o^{r the}^Be^nc^h,”^Le^gal^Tim^e^s^{, v}^o^{l. 2}⁵^{, N}^o^v^.¹¹^,²⁰⁰⁵^{, p.}^8.
¹⁴⁷^S^{ee “S}^en^at^o^r^{s Can}^V^e^t^o^Judⁱ^ci^al^Pⁱ^cks,^”^G^r^an^{d R}^api^ds^Pr^e^s^s^{, J}^a^n.^{5, 2}⁰⁰⁷^,^{p. B}⁶^{, re}^portⁱ^ng^tha^t^“^U^{.S. Se}ⁿ^.^P^a^tric^k
^L^eah^y^,^D-V^t^.^,^w^h^o^ch^ai^{rs t}^h^{e S}^e^nat^e^Ju^dⁱ^ci^ary^Co^mmⁱ^t^t^ee,^sai^d^t^hⁱ^s^w^e^{ek b}^o^t^h^sen^a^t^o^{rs f}^r^o^m^{a st}^at^e,^regard^l^e^{ss o}^f^p^a^rt^y
^a^f^f^ilia^{tion, w}^{ill ha}^v^e^{to c}^o^nc^{ur w}^{ith a}ⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^tion^be^f^o^re^{his c}^o^m^m^itte^e^w^{ill c}^onside^r^it.”^Se^e^a^l^{so Ke}^ith^P^e^ri^ne^{, “}^A^s
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

Committee, on various occasions, has criticized President Bush for failing to “work with” ¹⁴⁸
Senators of several specified states in making judicial nominee selections for those states and
for selecting nominees who have not received support from their home state Senators in the form ¹⁴⁹
of positive blue slips.
In another instance during the 110^th Congress, the President has nominated someone to a circuit
judgeship who was not on the list of five candidates recommended jointly to the judgeship by the
two home state Senators, one a Republican and the other a Democrat. (The nominee, however, ^th
had been on the list of candidates recommended by the Republican Senator earlier, in the 109
Congress.) Immediately, upon announcement of the nomination, the two Senators criticized the ¹⁵⁰
White House for ignoring their recommendations, with the Democratic Senator reportedly
stating there was “no way” he would return a positive blue slip to the committee needed for ¹⁵¹
Judiciary Committee consideration of the nomination. Eventually, the nominee, citing “press
reports” that he was unlikely to receive a hearing before the Judiciary Committee, requested that ¹⁵²
President Bush withdraw his nomination.

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^Judicⁱ^a^l^Ba^ttle^{s L}^oom^{, L}^e^a^h^y^Re^viv^e^{s Se}^na^te^‘Blue^Slip’^T^r^a^d^itio^n,^”^{CQ To}^d^a^y^,^Jan^.³^,²⁰⁰⁷^,^access^e^d^F^e^b^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^,^at
^http:^//www^.c^q.c^o^m^.
¹⁴⁸^S^ee,^f^o^{r i}ⁿ^st^an^ce,^t^h^{e op}^enⁱⁿ^{g st}^a^t^emen^t^s^o^f^S^eⁿ^.^P^a^t^rⁱ^c^{k J.}^L^eah^y^,^ch^ai^rman^o^f^t^h^{e S}^eⁿ^a^t^e^Judⁱ^ci^ary^Co^mmⁱ^t^t^ee,^at
^c^o^m^m^itte^e^he^a^r^ing^s^he^{ld o}ⁿ^j^udicⁱ^a^l^nom^ina^tions^oⁿ^July^19,²⁰⁰⁷^,^a^t^http^://w^ww^.le^a^h^y^.seⁿ^a^t^e^.^g^o^v^/^pr^e^ss/²⁰⁰⁷⁰⁷^/
⁰⁷¹⁹⁰⁷^c^.h^tm^{l an}^d^oⁿ^{Dec. 1}⁸^,²⁰⁰⁷^,^at^h^t^t^p^://w^ww^.leah^y^.^s^eⁿ^a^te.g^o^v^/p^ress/2⁰⁰⁷¹²^/¹²¹⁹⁰⁷^f^.h^tm^{l, b}^o^t^h^accessed^Feb^.⁵^,
²⁰⁰^{8, a}^s^w^e^{ll a}^s^the^Se^na^te^f^l^oor^s^t^a^t^em^eⁿ^{t of}^Se^{n. L}^e^a^h^y^{on Ma}^r^c^h^{3, 2}⁰⁰⁸^{, a}^t^“^J^udicⁱ^a^l^N^o^mⁱ^na^tions^,”^Co^ng^ressioⁿ^a^l
^R^eco^rd^{, da}^ily^e^d^itio^{n, v}^o^l^.¹⁵⁴^{, M}^a^rc^{h 3,}²⁰^08,^p^p^{. S}¹⁴^60-^S¹⁴⁶^2.
¹⁴⁹^On^M^a^rch³^,²⁰⁰⁸^,ⁱⁿ^{a S}^eⁿ^a^t^e^f^l^o^o^r^st^at^em^en^t^,^t^h^{e ch}^ai^rm^an^o^f^t^h^{e Ju}^dⁱ^ci^ary^Co^mmⁱ^t^t^{ee n}^o^t^ed^t^h^at^o^f^“t^h^e¹¹^ci^rcui^t
^nom^ina^tions^tha^t^ha^v^e^be^eⁿ^peⁿ^dⁱⁿ^g^be^f^o^r^e^the^Se^na^te^t^h^is^y^e^a^r^{, 8 ha}^v^e^{not ha}^d^the^s^u^pp^or^t^of^hom^e^Sta^t^e^Se^na^tor^s^.”
^Se^n.^P^a^tr^ic^k^J^.^L^e^a^h^y^,^“^J^udicⁱ^a^l^N^o^mⁱ^na^tions^,”^C^o^ngr^e^s^sⁱ^o^nal^Re^c^o^r^d^{, da}^ily^e^d^itio^{n, v}^o^l^.¹⁵⁴^,^Ma^rc^h^{3, 2}⁰⁰⁸^,^p.^S¹⁴⁶^1.
^S^{ee al}^so^Kei^t^h^P^e^riⁿ^e^,^“No^E^a^si^{ng o}^f^Bu^sh^{’s S}^t^an^{ce on}^Judⁱ^ci^al^Nomⁱⁿ^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^,^”^{CQ Weekl}^y^{, v}^o^{l. 65,}^N^o^v^.^5,²⁰⁰⁷^{, p}^p^.
³³¹^5-³³^16.⁽^H^e^r^e^a^f^t^e^r^c^ite^{d a}^s^P^e^rⁱ^ne^{, “}^N^{o Ea}^sⁱ^ng^of^B^u^s^h^’^s^Staⁿ^c^e^.^”⁾
¹⁵⁰^Se^{n. J}^o^hⁿ^W^a^rne^r^(R-V^A⁾^w^a^{s q}^uote^d^a^s^ha^vⁱ^ng^tol^d^t^h^e^W^h^ite^House^tha^t^“^I^ste^a^d^f^a^stl^y^re^m^a^{in c}^o^m^m^itte^{d to t}^h^e
^re^c^o^m^m^e^nda^{tions sta}^t^e^dⁱⁿ^m^y^{joint le}^tte^{r w}^{ith Se}^na^t^o^{r W}^e^bb.”^Je^rr^y^Ma^r^k^{on, “}^B^ush’s^Pic^k^{s f}^o^{r Cou}^r^{t Sp}^{ur Critic}^ism
^by^W^a^rⁿ^e^r^,^W^e^bb,”^The^W^a^s^hⁱ^ngt^{on P}^o^s^t^,^S^e^p^t^.⁷^,²⁰⁰⁷^,^p^.^B5.^S^e^n.^Ji^m^W^e^b^b^(D-V^A⁾^d^ecl^ared^t^h^at^“d^espⁱ^t^e^o^u^{r go}^od
^f^aⁱ^t^h^,^bⁱ^p^a^rtⁱ^s^{an eff}^o^rt^t^o^acco^mmo^d^a^t^e^t^h^e^P^r^esi^d^en^t^,^t^h^{e reco}^m^m^eⁿ^d^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^t^h^at^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^{r W}^a^rn^{er an}^d^{I m}^a^d^e^h^a^{ve b}^een
^ig^nore^d^{. T}^h^e^W^h^ite^Ho^use^ta^lk^{s a}^bou^{t t}^h^e^spirit^of^bi^pa^r^tisaⁿ^shi^p^{, l}^a^m^e^nting^c^ong^re^ssiona^{l o}^b^struc^tⁱ^onism^{. T}^h^e^W^h^ite
^H^ous^e^c^aⁿⁿ^o^{t e}^x^pe^c^t^{to c}^o^m^p^la^{in a}^bout^the^c^o^nf^ir^m^a^{tion of}^f^e^de^r^a^l^judg^e^s^w^h^eⁿ^the^y^pr^o^ceed^t^o^actⁱⁿ^t^hⁱ^s^m^aⁿⁿ^e^r.^”
^Se^{n. J}ⁱ^m^W^e^{bb, “}^W^e^{bb R}^e^s^pon^ds^{to W}^h^ite^H^o^us^e^’^s^N^o^mⁱ^na^tion^of^D^unc^aⁿ^G^e^tc^he^ll,”^ne^w^s^r^e^le^as^e^,^Se^pt.^6,²⁰^07,
^acces^sed^Feb^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^{, at}^h^t^t^p^://w^ww^.^w^eb^b^.^sen^a^te.g^o^v^.
¹⁵¹^P^e^te^{r Ha}^rdin,^“^W^e^{bb Ha}^{s P}^a^ir^of^Fig^h^{ts o}ⁿ^{his Ha}^nds;^He^Ma^y^Bl^oc^k^Judg^e^Pic^k^a^{nd W}^ill^{Push A}^g^aⁱ^{n f}^o^{r More}
^Tⁱ^m^e^Of^f^f^o^r^T^r^oops^,”^Rich^mon^d^Tⁱ^mes^Disp^a^t^ch^,^Se^pt^{. 1}³^,²⁰⁰⁷^{, p}^.^B2.
¹⁵²^Ma^nu^Ra^{ju, “}^J^u^d^ic^ia^{l Nom}ⁱ^ne^e^W^ithdra^w^{s a}^m^{id De}^m^o^c^r^a^tic^Criti^cⁱ^s^m^,”^The^H^ill.c^o^m^,^Jan^.¹⁸^,²⁰⁰⁸^,^accessed^Jan^.
^24,²⁰⁰⁸^{, a}^t^http^://w^ww^.the^hill.c^o^m^.^T^h^e^nom^ine^e^,^Dunc^aⁿ^G^e^tc^he^{ll of}^Vⁱ^rgⁱⁿ^ia^{, ha}^d^be^eⁿ^nom^ina^t^e^d^by^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t
^B^u^s^h^t^o^a^j^udg^e^s^hip^on^the^U^.^{S. C}^our^t^of^A^ppe^a^l^s^f^o^r^the^Four^{th C}ⁱ^r^c^{uit. I}ⁿ^a^le^tte^r^s^e^nt^{to t}^h^e^W^h^ite^H^ous^e^,^G^e^tc^he^ll
^said^th^{at “recen}^{t p}^r^{ess rep}^o^{rts i}ⁿ^dⁱ^{cate ... th}^{at t}^h^{e Sen}^a^te^Dem^o^{cratic lead}^ersh^ip^w^{ill n}^o^{t allo}^w^{a h}^eariⁿ^g^[oⁿ^th^e
^nom^ina^tion^]^to^g^o^f^o^rw^a^r^{d.... ”}^Ibi^d^.
^D^u^rⁱ^ng^the¹¹⁰^th^Cong^re^{ss, o}^p^p^o^sition^by^hom^e^sta^t^e^Se^na^{tors a}^l^so^ha^{s bloc}^k^e^{d a}^t^le^a^s^{t tw}^{o U.S.}^distrⁱ^c^t^c^ourt
^nom^ina^tions^f^r^om^be^ing^c^onsⁱ^d^e^r^e^d^by^the^Se^na^te^J^u^dⁱ^cⁱ^a^r^y^C^o^m^m^itte^e⁽ⁱⁿ^one^c^a^s^e^inf^l^ue^nc^ing^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^{t G}^e^or^g^e^W^.
^B^u^s^h^t^o^w^ithdr^a^w^theⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^tion⁾^{. Se}^e^J^a^y^J^o^c^hnow^itz^{, “}^D^on^oh^ue^W^on’^{t G}^e^{t Fe}^de^r^a^{l J}^udg^e^s^{hip; Ex}^-^L^ie^uteⁿ^aⁿ^t
^G^o^v^e^r^nor^’^s^Q^u^e^s^{t f}^o^r^m^a^l^l^y^Ende^{d by}^W^h^ite^H^ous^e^A^c^tion,”^The^Ti^m^e^s^Uⁿ^ion^[^A^lbaⁿ^y^,^N^Y^]^,^Se^pt.^7,²⁰^07,^p.^A³
⁽^r^e^por^ti^ng^on^P^r^e^s^ideⁿ^t^B^u^s^h^’^s^w^ithdr^a^w^a^l^{, on}^Se^pt.^6,²⁰⁰⁷^{, of}^the^nom^ina^tion^of^Ma^r^y^O^.^D^onoh^ue^{to t}^h^e^U^.^S.
^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^C^our^t^f^o^r^the^N^o^r^t^he^rⁿ^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^of^N^e^w^Y^o^r^k⁾^;^Er^ic^a^W^e^rⁿ^er^{, “}^B^ox^e^r^B^l^oc^kⁱ^ng^For^m^e^r^R^e^p.^R^o^g^a^{n N}^o^mⁱ^na^tion
^{to Fe}^de^r^a^{l J}^udicⁱ^a^r^y^,^”^A^sso^ci^a^t^ed^P^r^ess^{, No}^v^.³⁰^,²⁰⁰⁷^{, accessed}^oⁿ^Feb^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^{, at}^h^t^t^p^://w^ww^.le^xⁱ^sⁿ^e^xⁱ^s.co^m
⁽^r^e^g^a^r^d^ing^nom^ina^tion^of^f^o^r^m^e^r^R^e^{p. J}^a^m^e^s^{E. R}^o^g^a^{n to}^the^U^.^S.^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^C^our^t^f^o^r^the^C^e^ntr^a^l^Dⁱ^s^t^rⁱ^c^t^of^C^a^lif^or^nia⁾^;
^D^a^vⁱ^{d G}^.^Sa^va^g^e^{, “}^R^og^aⁿ^May^B^e^D^e^nie^d^Se^a^t^oⁿ^Fe^de^r^a^{l B}^e^nc^h,”^L^o^{s A}ⁿ^g^e^{les T}ⁱ^mes^,^Dec.^4,²⁰⁰⁷^{, p}^.^A¹⁴^.

In recent years, the role to be played by home state Senators in the selection process for lower
court judges has periodically been the subject of debate. Specific issues concerning the Senators’
recommending role have included the following:
Various Judiciary Committee policy statements, discussed earlier, have prescribed specific
consultative steps between an administration and home state Senators as requisite elements in
consultation conducted seriously and in good faith. The statements, however, did not address how
seriously the Administration should consider the Senators’ judicial candidate recommendations or
their objections to other candidates under Administration consideration. In various controversies
over particular judicial nominations during the Bush presidency, Democratic home state Senators
asserted that the Bush Administration did not engage in good faith, serious consultation with them
during the judicial nominee selection process, an assertion denied by the Administration. The
Administration view, in these controversies, appeared to be that it engaged in good faith, serious
consultation with a home state Senator on judicial nominations if it considered the input of a
Senator, even if it ultimately made a decision (in the selection of a judicial nominee) contrary to
the Senator’s express wishes. On the other side, by contrast, the view of opposition party Senators
appeared to be that good faith, serious consultation was shown not to have occurred when the
President selected a judicial nominee over their strong objections or with evident disinterest in
candidates that they might have proposed.
Over the years, the Bush Administration’s stated practice has been one of welcoming home state
Senators’ views about who should or should not be nominated to fill federal court judgeships in ¹⁵³
their states. The Administration, however, appears not always to have informed home state
Senators, prior to announcing the selection of a nominee, of all candidates under consideration or
of the candidate finally chosen to be the nominee. For example, in at least one such instance, a
circuit court nominee allegedly was selected without prior consultation with the home state
Senators. A spokesperson for one of the Senators criticized the President for acting in an
“uncooperative unilateral manner,” which, he said, broke “sharply from the cooperative process ¹⁵⁴
in which previous nominees were chosen.

¹⁵³^S^ee,^f^o^{r exa}^m^p^l^e,ⁱⁿ^G^o^l^d^m^aⁿ^et^al^.^,^“W^.^Bu^sh^Rem^a^kiⁿ^g^t^h^{e Ju}^dⁱ^ci^ar^y^,^{” p}^.²⁸⁷^,^qu^o^tⁱⁿ^{g Bret}^t^Kavan^a^u^g^h^,^asso^ci^at^e
^W^hⁱ^t^e^Ho^u^s^{e co}^un^sel^,^earl^yⁱⁿ^t^h^e^Bu^sh^p^r^esi^d^en^cy^,^{as f}^o^llow^s^{: “}^W^e^c^onsult^w^{ith the}^hom^e^sta^t^e^seⁿ^a^{tors on}^b^o^th
^dis^t^rⁱ^c^t^c^o^ur^{t a}ⁿ^{d c}^o^ur^ts^of^a^ppe^a^l^s^a^{nd r}^un^by^the^m^{, bef}^o^r^e^aⁿ^FB^I^ba^c^k^g^r^{ound c}^h^e^c^k^{, na}^m^e^s^of^pe^ople^w^{ho a}^r^e^unde^r
^coⁿ^sⁱ^d^eratⁱ^oⁿ^t^o^get^t^h^ei^r^reactⁱ^o^{n ah}^ead^o^f^tⁱ^m^e,^an^d^tha^t^he^{lps a}^v^oⁱ^{d pr}^ob^le^m^s^dow^{n the}^roa^d^{. W}^e^m^a^intaⁱⁿ
^c^onsulta^ti^on^log^s^{, a}ⁿ^{d I t}^hⁱⁿ^k^the^r^e^’^{s be}^eⁿ^e^x^te^nsiv^e^c^onsulta^tio^n.”^Se^e^a^l^{so the}^p^r^e^v^iously^c^ite^{d re}^m^a^rk^{s, la}^te^{r in the}
^B^u^s^h^pr^e^s^ideⁿ^c^y^{, of}^W^h^ite^H^ous^e^c^ouns^e^l^D^a^bⁿ^e^y^Fr^ie^dr^ic^{h, q}^u^o^t^e^dⁱⁿ^G^o^ldm^a^{n e}^t^a^l^{, “}^W^{. B}^u^s^h^’^s^J^udicⁱ^a^r^y^:^T^h^e^Fir^s^t
^T^e^r^m^R^e^c^o^r^d^,”^p.²⁴^7.
¹⁵⁴^E^l^an^{a S}^c^ho^{r and}^M^a^nu^Raj^u^,^{“Dems G}^r^ap^p^l^{e w}ⁱ^t^h^A^p^p^eal^{s No}^mⁱⁿ^ee,^Hi^gh^Co^u^r^t^’^s^F^u^t^u^re,^”^Th^e^Hⁱ^ll^{, v}^o^l.¹⁴^{, J}^u^ly
^19,²⁰⁰⁷^{, p}^.⁴^.^T^h^eⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^{tion i}ⁿ^que^s^tio^{n w}^a^s^tha^t^of^Sha^l^om^Stoⁿ^e^of^N^e^w^J^e^r^s^ey^{to the}^U^.^S.^C^o^ur^t^of^A^ppe^a^l^s^f^o^r
^the^T^h^ir^{d C}ⁱ^r^c^{uit, w}^h^ic^{h a}^not^he^r^ne^w^s^a^c^c^{ount r}^e^p^o^r^t^e^d^“^w^a^s^m^a^de^w^{ithout i}ⁿ^p^u^{t f}^r^om^the^s^t^a^t^e^’^s^[^N^ew^J^e^r^s^ey^’^s^]^tw^o
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

Historically, as a general rule, Presidents, as already discussed, have been much more accepting
of judicial recommendations from Senators of their own party than from Senators of the
opposition party. When neither of a state’s Senators are of the President’s party, the
recommending role has traditionally been filled by another state official of the same party as the
President, such as the governor or the most senior U.S. Representative of the President’s party
from the state. If only one of the state’s Senators is of the President’s party, the role of providing
recommendations traditionally has belonged to that Senator alone, to the exclusion of any
significant consultative role for the opposition party Senator.
Like many of his White House predecessors, however, President George W. Bush has selected
some lower court nominees from among candidates recommended by opposition party Senators.
In these situations, the Administration might make special accommodations with opposition party
Senators for reasons unique to the state in question—for example, to be in keeping with an
established practice in the state for its two Senators, regardless of their party, to make
recommendations to the President; to minimize potential conflict with particular Senators whose
support for, or opposition to, the President’s judicial nominations, might be regarded as of
strategic importance for confirmation purposes; or to minimize the chances of opposition party
Senators using the Senate Judiciary Committee’s blue slip procedure to block home state
nominations in committee.
In the 110^th Congress, with the Democrats in the Senate majority, and thus able, if voting along
party lines, to defeat a judicial nominee in committee or on the Senate floor, an issue for the
Administration is whether to accord a primary recommending role to opposition party Senators in
additional states. Many opposition party Senators presumably would welcome such a role.
Nonetheless, there would appear to be powerful political and policy incentives for a President not
to confer this role on opposition party Senators in general. In states without a Senator of the
President’s party, other officials of the President’s party, based on tradition, can claim a role in the
judicial selection process, and they might well be offended if required to share this role with (or
relinquish it to) opposition party Senators. Further, the President presumably would wish, as
much as possible, to draw upon judicial nominee recommendations from persons who are
sympathetic to his philosophical views about the judiciary; this concern would be an incentive for
him to rely as much as possible on input from officials of his own party, rather than on opposition
party Senators.
As already discussed,¹⁵⁵ home state Senators of the President’s party by custom exert less
influence over the selection of circuit court nominees than of district court nominees. Such

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^De^m^o^c^r^a^tic^Se^na^{tors. L}ⁱ^sa^Bre^nna^{n, “}^N^{.J. Re}^pu^bli^c^aⁿ^L^a^wy^e^r^Nomⁱ^na^te^{d to Fill}^A^{lito Se}^a^t^oⁿ³^rd^Cⁱ^rc^uit,”^{New Jersey}
^{Law J}^o^urⁿ^a^l^{, Ju}^ly¹⁹^,²⁰⁰⁷^{, accessed}^Feb^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^,^{at h}^t^t^p^://w^ww^.l^aw^.^c^o^m^.
¹⁵⁵^Se^e^e^a^r^lie^r^s^e^c^{tion of}^this^r^e^por^t^unde^r^the^he^a^d^ing^“^L^e^s^s^e^r^R^o^le^f^o^r^Se^na^t^o^r^s^W^h^eⁿ^R^e^c^o^m^m^e^nding^Cⁱ^r^c^{uit C}^o^ur^t
^C^a^ndida^te^s^.^”

Senators may, and frequently do, recommend circuit court candidates, but with the usual
understanding that the Administration will be considering other candidates as well—with the
distinct possibility of the President selecting a nominee from the latter group. Home state
Senators of the opposition party are also free to recommend candidates for circuit court
nominations (as they may for district court nominations). By custom, however, such
recommendations (in large part because they come from the Senators of the opposition party) are
ordinarily not at the top of the list among candidates under Administration consideration. (The
rare exceptions to this, where recommendations by an opposition party Senator are a major
consideration in the selection of circuit court nominees, have usually occurred when the
recommendations were made jointly with a Senator of the President’s party or in accord with the
recommendations of a bipartisan judicial nominee selection panel established in the Senators’
state.)
Throughout the presidency of George W. Bush, Administration sources have indicated an
openness to receiving circuit nominee recommendations from home state Senators, without,
however, being under any obligation to follow the advice given. President Bush’s disinclination to
cede selection power to home state Senators of his party in the area of circuit court appointments
seemed to be borne out by various news media accounts in 2007, which reported on public
disagreements between the Bush Administration and a number of Republican Senators over
whom to nominate to fill certain circuit judgeships. A Washington Post story, reporting on these
disagreements, quoted “one conservative who is close to the nominating process” (and who
would speak only on the condition of anonymity) as saying, “There has been a long-standing
practice in Republican administrations that courts of appeals nominees are the president’s ¹⁵⁶
prerogative, period.”
Controversy also has arisen periodically, throughout the Bush presidency, over how much
influence home state Senators of the opposition party should have on the President’s selection of
circuit court nominees. The controversies usually have occurred when President Bush selected
nominees who were objectionable to the Senators, doing so apparently uninfluenced by the
Senators’ pre-selection input aimed at dissuading him from making these choices. Rather than
“working with” the home state Senators to select nominees who would be acceptable to both
sides, the President, his Senate critics have alleged, selected nominees without regard to the
Senators’ nominee preferences or concerns.
The Bush Administration, as of early March 2008, has not publicly stated, as a matter of general
policy, what it regards as the proper degree of influence for opposition party home state Senators
to have on the selection of circuit court nominees, or to what degree the President should
accommodate opposition party Senators in these selections. However, if it chose to do so, the
Administration arguably could defend decisions by the President to make circuit nominee
selections against the advice of opposition party Senators on at least these two grounds: First, it
could be argued, if the President typically does not give primary consideration to the circuit court
recommendations from home state Senators of his own party, why should he do so for home state
Senators of the other party? Second, it arguably is appropriate, given the importance of the
rulings of the circuit courts (in setting precedents that are binding on all the district courts within
their circuits), that a President be concerned with selecting circuit court nominees who have a

¹⁵⁶^T^h^{e art}ⁱ^c^l^e^al^so^rep^o^r^t^e^{d t}^h^at^“^[^s^]^o^m^{e co}ⁿ^s^ervatⁱ^{ves p}^rⁱ^v^at^el^y^s^a^y^t^h^at^t^h^{e Repu}^blⁱ^can^sen^a^t^o^{rs are}^overst^e^p^pⁱⁿ^g^t^h^ei^r
^re^s^ponsⁱ^b^ility^{, w}^h^ic^{h tra}^d^itio^na^lly^gⁱ^v^e^s^them^a^m^u^c^h^la^rg^e^r^roleⁱⁿ^dis^t^ric^t^c^o^urts^t^h^aⁿⁱⁿ^t^h^e^a^ppe^lla^t^e^c^ourts^.”^Ro^be^rt
^B^a^rⁿ^e^s^a^{nd Mic}^h^a^e^l^A^b^r^a^m^o^w^itz^{, “}^C^ons^e^r^v^a^tiv^e^s^W^o^r^r^y^a^{bout C}^o^u^r^{t V}^acan^ci^es,^”^The^W^a^s^hⁱⁿ^gtoⁿ^P^o^s^t^{, J}^u^ne¹⁰^,²⁰^07,
^{p. A}⁴^.

judicial philosophy that is compatible with his own. From the President’s standpoint, opposition
party Senators, who have frequently been in public conflict with his Administration over the
criteria to use in selecting judicial nominees, cannot realistically be regarded as providing the
most suitable circuit candidate recommendations for the President to consider.
In the 110^th Congress, however, a new consideration for the President has come into play, one
favoring a more important role for opposition party Senators in the circuit nominee selection
process than they traditionally have been afforded. This consideration is that a circuit or district ^th
court nomination has a reduced chance of being confirmed by the Senate during the 110
Congress if it is opposed by a home state Senator, which was not necessarily the case in previous
Congresses.
After being the minority in the Senate during the 108^th and 109^th Congresses, the Democrats in ^th
the 110 Congress now have majority control of the Senate and its Judiciary Committee. As
already discussed, under the blue slip policy of the Judiciary Committee now in effect, a circuit or
district court nomination in a state will not be considered by the committee if both of the state’s
two Senators have not returned positive blue slips. For the Bush Administration, the
consequences of this policy appear to be as follows: If the President selects a circuit (or district)
court nominee over the objections of a home state Senator of the opposition party, or in spite of
the Senator’s recommendations that someone else be nominated, the Senator, by declining to
return a positive blue slip, can block the nomination in the Judiciary Committee. Where an
opposition party Senator is able and inclined to block a home state judicial nomination unless the
President selects a nominee acceptable to the Senator, the Administration may have to make some
accommodation with the Senator—if it hopes to see the nomination confirmed. The
accommodation would consist, in some way, of affording the Senator a greater, more influential
role in the nominee selection process than typically has been afforded opposition party Senators
in the past.
In recent decades, the blue slip policy of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as already discussed,
has often varied, depending on the committee chair. The blue slip policy of the Judiciary
Committee under its current chair is that a judicial nomination will not receive a hearing unless ¹⁵⁷
both home state Senators return a favorable blue slip to the committee. Several home state ^th
Senators in the 110 Congress have indicated their displeasure with the Administration for not
having consulted with them more actively in a cooperative effort to select circuit court nominees ¹⁵⁸
from their states. Decisions by any of these Senators not to return positive blue slips for judicial
nominees from their states, it has been noted, would prevent Judiciary Committee consideration

¹⁵⁷^A^t^the^sta^r^{t of}^the¹¹⁰^th^Coⁿ^g^ress,^an^ai^d^e^t^o^S^eⁿ^.^P^a^t^rⁱ^c^{k J.}^L^eah^y^,^ch^ai^rman^o^f^t^h^{e Ju}^di^ci^ary^Co^mmⁱ^t^t^ee,^sai^d^t^h^at
^Se^{n. L}^e^a^h^y^w^{ould a}^b^ide^by^the^s^a^m^e^blue^s^lip^p^o^lic^y^a^s^he^ha^{d w}^h^eⁿ^he^pr^e^v^ious^ly^ha^{d be}^eⁿ^c^h^aⁱ^r^m^{an (}^d^ur^ing^t^h^e¹⁰⁷^th
^Cong^re^{ss). Unde}^{r t}^h^is^polic^y^,^{it wa}^{s e}^x^plaⁱ^ne^{d, b}^o^th^Se^na^tors^f^r^om^a^sta^t^e^,^re^g^a^rdle^{ss of}^pa^rt^y^a^f^f^ilia^tⁱ^on,^w^ould^ha^v^e^to
^re^{turn a}^positiv^e^b^l^ue^sli^p^oⁿ^a^j^u^dⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^nom^ina^tion^be^f^o^re^{it c}^o^uld^b^e^c^onside^r^e^d^by^the^Judicⁱ^a^r^y^Com^m^itte^e^.^Sa^ra^h
^K^e^llog^g^,^“^M^ic^hig^a^{n Se}^na^tor^s^G^e^{t Mor}^e^Sa^y^ov^e^r^J^udg^e^s^,”^Mlⁱ^ve.^co^m^,^Jan^.^5,²⁰⁰⁷^,^accessed^F^e^b^.²³^,²⁰⁰⁷^,^at
^http:^//www^.^m^liv^e^.^c^o^m^.
¹⁵⁸^A^new^s^s^t^or^y^{in N}^o^v^e^m^b^e^r^2007,^f^o^r^ins^t^aⁿ^c^e^,^c^ite^d^Se^na^tor^s^f^r^om^fⁱ^ve^s^t^a^t^e^s^—^C^a^lⁱ^f^or^nia^,^Mic^h^ig^aⁿ^{, N}^e^w^J^e^r^s^ey^,
^R^hode^I^s^la^nd,^aⁿ^d^Vⁱ^r^g^inia^—^w^{ho ha}^d^opeⁿ^l^y^f^a^ulte^{d the}^B^u^s^h^A^d^mⁱ^nis^t^r^a^{tion f}^o^rⁿ^o^{t ha}^vⁱ^ng^c^o^ns^ul^te^{d the}^m^a^bout
^p^o^t^entⁱ^a^l^ci^rcuⁱ^t^c^o^u^r^t^no^mⁱⁿ^ees^f^r^o^m^t^h^ei^{r st}^at^es.^P^e^riⁿ^e^,^“No^E^a^si^{ng o}^f^Bu^sh^{’s S}^t^an^ce,^{” p}^.³³¹⁵^.

of the nominees during the 110^th Congress.¹⁵⁹ For its part, the Administration has described its ¹⁶⁰
judicial nominees as “people who are qualified to serve and should be on our courts,” calling
for action on all of the nominations already sent forward, “with fair and open hearings and swift ¹⁶¹
votes by the full Senate.”
Throughout the Bush presidency, the Judiciary Committee’s blue slip policy has often been at the
center of Senate debate over judicial nominations. In this debate, Senators have differed in their
view of exactly how the policy has been applied in the past and how much control over lower
court nominations the policy should confer on home state Senators. The latter issue, of whether
the Judiciary Committee should consider a district or circuit court nomination if a home state ^th
Senator has not returned a favorable blue slip, is of continuing relevance in the 110 Congress.
The Administration position (as indicated by the above quote calling for “swift votes” by the
Senate on all pending nominations) is that the Judiciary Committee should consider each
nomination, regardless of whether a blue slip has been returned. A rationale for this position was
laid out in an April 2003 letter by then-White House counsel Alberto Gonzales. In a letter to two
Democratic Senators, he explained why, in his view, the committee should not allow a home state
Senator to block committee consideration of a judicial nominee:
^W^e^ag^r^{ee str}^oⁿ^g^l^y^wⁱ^th^th^{e b}ⁱ^p^a^r^tisan^p^o^lic^y^m^aⁱⁿ^taiⁿ^ed^b^y^S^eⁿ^a^to^r^s^Keⁿⁿ^e^d^y^{, T}^h^u^r^m^oⁿ^d^,
^Bⁱ^den^,^an^{d Hatch}^a^s^C^h^airs^o^f^t^h^{e J}^u^diciar^y^C^o^m^m^ittee.^W^e^res^p^ectf^u^ll^y^a^g^{ree th}^at^the
^tr^ad^itioⁿ^o^f^coⁿ^s^u^l^tatioⁿ^d^o^e^{s n}^o^{t a}ⁿ^d^sh^o^u^ldⁿ^o^{t e}ⁿ^tail^a^v^e^to^f^o^r^h^o^m^e^-^s^tate^Seⁿ^a^to^r^s^,
^p^a^r^ticu^l^ar^l^y^a^v^e^to^wⁱ^eld^e^d^f^o^r^id^eo^lo^gⁱ^{cal o}^r^p^o^{litical p}^u^r^p^o^s^{es. Rat}^h^er^{, th}^{e i}ⁿ^ten^t^ioⁿ^o^f^t^h^e
^Coⁿ^s^titu^tioⁿ^aⁿ^d^th^{e tr}^ad^itioⁿ^o^f^th^{e Se}ⁿ^a^{te r}^e^q^u^ir^{e, i}ⁿ^o^u^r^ju^d^g^e^m^en^{t, th}^{at t}^h^e^f^u^l^l^Sen^a^te
^h^o^{ld an u}^p^{or do}^wⁿ^v^o^{te on ea}^ch^j^u^dicialⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^ee.^{If th}^e^objection^s^o^f^h^o^m^e^-s^tate^Sen^a^tors
^to^{a n}^o^mⁱⁿ^{ee ar}^{e p}^e^r^s^u^a^si^v^e^{, th}^o^s^{e o}^b^j^ectioⁿ^s^eith^er^w^{ill d}^e^ter^th^{e P}^r^esid^en^{t f}^r^o^m^s^u^b^m^ittiⁿ^g
^th^{e n}^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tioⁿⁱⁿ^t^h^{e f}ⁱ^r^s^{t in}^s^t^an^{ce o}^r^{, alter}ⁿ^ativ^el^y^,^wⁱ^l^l^coⁿ^vⁱⁿ^{ce a}^m^a^j^o^rⁱ^t^y^o^f^th^{e Se}ⁿ^a^te
^t^h^at^t^h^eⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^a^tⁱ^{on sh}^ou^l^d^be^rej^ect^{ed. A}^s^S^eⁿ^a^t^o^{r K}^eⁿⁿ^edy^st^at^{ed i}ⁿ^{1981, h}^o^w^e^v^e^{r, t}^h^e
^Sen^a^te^h^a^sⁿ^o^{t a}^llo^w^e^d^an^d^sh^o^u^ldⁿ^o^{t allo}^w^“in^dⁱ^v^id^u^a^l^Seⁿ^a^to^r^s^[^t^o^]^b^aⁿ^,^p^r^o^h^ib^{it, o}^r^b^a^r^”¹⁶²
^con^s^ideration^of^aⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^ee.
The current chair of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT), however, has
asserted, throughout the presidency of George W. Bush, that the committee—in keeping with the
blue slip policy in effect during the period of the Clinton presidency when Republicans were in
the Senate majority—should not act on a lower court nomination unless it has received positive
blue slips from both home state Senators. In support of this position, Senator Leahy, in the first
months of the Bush Administration, stated, as the committee’s ranking Democratic member, that
it had been “a longstanding practice of the committee for it to solicit and be guided by the views
of home state Senators” and for it not to proceed “with action on a nominee without the return by
both home state Senators of their blue slips.” Such a policy, he said, “had the effect of ¹⁶³
encouraging the White House to consult with home state Senators in advance.” In a similar

¹⁵⁹^Ibⁱ^d^.^,^f^o^{r exam}^p^l^e,^co^mm^en^tⁱⁿ^{g t}^h^at^P^r^esi^d^en^t^Bu^{sh’s “rel}^u^c^t^aⁿ^{ce t}^o^coⁿ^s^u^l^t^wⁱ^t^h^Dem^o^crat^s^m^a^{kes i}^t^lⁱ^k^el^y^t^h^at
^f^e^w^,ⁱ^f^an^yⁿ^o^mⁱⁿ^ees^f^r^o^m^{a st}^at^e^rep^r^esen^t^e^d^b^y^{a De}^m^o^cratⁱ^c^sen^a^t^o^{r are go}ⁱⁿ^{g t}^o^recei^{ve a co}ⁿ^fⁱ^r^matⁱ^oⁿ^vo^t^e^.^”
¹⁶⁰^C^a^r^rⁱ^e^B^u^d^o^f^f^B^r^o^w^{n, “}^B^us^{h St}^ir^s^Spa^r^k^s^{on J}^udg^e^s^,”^The^P^o^litic^o^,^Oct^.²^,²⁰⁰⁷^,^accessed^F^e^b^.⁵^,²⁰⁰⁸^,^at
^http:^//www^.politic^o^.^c^o^m^,^quo^ting^W^h^ite^House^spok^e^s^w^o^m^aⁿ^Em^il^y^L^a^wri^m^ore^.
¹⁶¹^M^aⁿ^u^Raj^u^,^“Repu^b^lⁱ^can^{s S}^{eek Qu}ⁱ^c^{ker Act}ⁱ^oⁿ^on^Jud^g^{es f}^r^o^m^t^h^{e W}^hⁱ^t^e^Ho^u^s^e,^”^The^Hⁱ^l^l^,^vo^l^.^14,^Oct^.⁴^,²⁰⁰⁷^,^p^.
^{3, q}^u^o^ting^W^h^ite^H^o^us^e^s^pok^e^s^w^o^m^a^{n E}^m^il^y^Law^rⁱ^m^or^e^.
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^printe^{d in}^“^S^ta^lle^{d N}^o^mⁱ^na^{tions f}^o^{r the}^Six^t^{h Circ}^uit,”^C^oⁿ^g^r^e^s^sⁱ^onal^R^eco^rd^,^vo^l.¹⁴^9,^Ju^l^y¹⁶^,²⁰⁰³^,^p.¹⁸²¹^0.
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^Bu^sin^e^{ss M}^eetin^g^,^M^a^y³^,²⁰⁰¹^,^acces^sed^M^a^y³^,²⁰⁰¹^{, at}^h^t^t^p^://w^ww^.s^en^ate.g^o^v^/^~^j^u^d^iciary^/^p^jl⁰⁵⁰^301e^.^h^tm^{. (}^C^opy
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

vein, in 2003, Senator Leahy objected to the holding of a committee hearing for a circuit court
nominee who had not had two positive blue slips returned to the committee. He contrasted the
blue slip policy then in effect with the policy applied during the Clinton Administration, which,
he said, “operated as an absolute bar to the consideration of any nominee to any court unless both ¹⁶⁴
home state Senators had returned positive blue slips.”
Under the Judiciary Committee’s current blue slip policy, the objection of a home state Senator to
a judicial nomination, registered by failing to return a positive blue slip, would doom the
nomination’s chances for committee consideration (and hence, also for Senate consideration and
confirmation). Given that policy, the onus is on the Administration, if it hopes to see its nominee
confirmed, not only to consult with the home state Senator but also, through a process of
consultation, to select a nominee who is acceptable to both the Administration and the home state
Senator. If the White House and a home state Senator cannot agree, the President would appear to
have at least four options—to nominate someone objectionable to the home state Senator (and
who thus would have a reduced chance of being confirmed), to decline to nominate someone at
all (leaving the appointment in question to be made in the next Congress, by the next President),
to make a temporary recess appointment (which would not require confirmation by the Senate),
or to re-enter consultations with the Senator (in the hope of finding a nominee acceptable to both
sides).
Reaching agreement on the choice of nominee, recent experience suggests, might not always be
possible. It especially might be difficult when a presidential administration and a home state
Senator differ over the criteria to use in selecting judicial nominees or over the policy goals to be
served by judicial appointments, or when there are sharp partisan differences between the
President and the opposition party in the Senate over judicial appointments. In such
circumstances, however, the consultative process might sometimes present an opportunity for the
Administration and home state Senator to resolve their differences. The process, for instance,
might be an opportunity for the Administration to address, and seek to ease, concerns a home
state Senator might have about a judicial candidate. Alternately, during consultation with the
Administration, the Senator’s input might, in particular circumstances, increase the chances for
the selection of a “compromise” nominee, or one less objectionable to the Senator than a
candidate under earlier consideration by the Administration.
As noted earlier, various policy statements by chairs of the Senate Judiciary Committee have
listed various specific consultative steps which, at the time, the chairs regarded as requisite
elements in consultation between an administration and home state Senators concerning the
selection of lower court nominees. Although not binding on the Administration then or now, such
statements can be seen as helping to identify points during the consultative process when Senators

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^avai^l^a^b^l^{e f}^r^o^m^au^t^h^o^r^.⁾
¹⁶⁴^Sta^t^e^m^eⁿ^{t by}^Se^{n. L}^e^a^h^y^a^t^aⁿ^A^p^r^il^1,²⁰^03,^he^a^r^ing^oⁿ^j^udicⁱ^a^lⁿ^o^mⁱ^na^tions^{, i}ⁿ^U^.^S^.^C^o^ng^r^e^s^s^,^Se^na^te^C^o^m^m^itte^e
^oⁿ^t^h^{e Jud}ⁱ^ci^ary^,^C^onfir^m^a^ti^on^H^e^ar^ings^{on Fe}^de^r^a^l^A^p^p^oⁱⁿ^tm^eⁿ^ts^{, he}^a^r^ing^s^{, pa}^rt^2,¹⁰⁸^th^Cong^.,¹^st^s^e^s^s^{., Fe}^{b. 5}^,¹²^,
^Ma^r^c^{h 12}^{, 2}⁷^{, a}^{nd A}^p^r^il^1,²⁰⁰³⁽^W^a^s^hing^{ton: G}^P^O^,²⁰⁰⁴⁾^{, p}^.⁹⁹⁷^.

and the Administration might make a point of contacting each other before a nominee is actually
selected.
For any given Senator, the actual consultative process that takes place between the Senator (or his
or her staff) and the Administration will be unique to the situation at hand. For the particular
judicial candidate search in question, there will be such unique elements as the extent and nature
of input that the Senator conveys, whether he or she recommends specific candidates (and if so,
the comparative strengths of the Senator’s candidates vis-à-vis others the Administration might be
considering), the predisposition of the Administration to the Senator’s input, and a host other
political factors that the Administration might have to take into account (including its own policy
preferences for judicial nominees).
A President, experience has shown, sometimes nominates a judicial candidate other than one
favored by a home state Senator, often, by custom, doing so when the home state Senator is of the
opposition party. Whether the President, when making such a choice, has shown due respect for
the advisory part of the Senator’s advice and consent role will be a personal question for the
Senator to answer—but one also of likely interest to other Senators concerned about the nature of
their advice and consent prerogatives as home state Senators. Of key relevance to the question
will be the extent to which the Administration consulted with the Senator or the Senator’s staff,
and whether it did so with an apparent openness to the Senator’s views.
^D^eⁿⁱ^{s St}^e^v^eⁿ^Rut^k^us
^Specialis^{t on}^t^h^{e Federal J}^u^diciar^y
^dru^t^ku^s@^crs^.^l^o^c.g^o^v^,⁷^-⁷¹⁶²