WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Some Senate Republicans are fuming after the absence of some of their GOP colleagues, which is allowing Democrats to confirm judicial nominees at a fast pace with little resistance.
These federal judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate with lifetime appointments to the bench.
This week, several Senate Republicans skipped out on key judicial confirmation votes, letting judges nominated by President Joe Biden sail onto the federal judiciary with ease.
“We got to show up for work. What happened on Monday night – Only occurred because Republicans were not here,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).
Those absent at different points this week included Vice president-elect Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio.) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
Indiana Republican Senator Mike Braun also missed votes.
“We’ve got to show up, folks. The American people expect us to show up for a job,” added Tillis.
Senate Democrats are racing to confirm as many federal judicial nominees as they can before President Biden leaves office.
“The Senate is going to keep prioritizing judicial and administrative confirmations this week, this month, and the rest of the year,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Even with all Republican senators present, each nominee would likely get confirmed anyway since Democrats hold the majority, but Republicans would have enough votes to at least slow down the process.
“There’s no excuse to let Chuck Schumer force these judicial nominations down our throat,” said Tillis.
Senate Democrats could potentially confirm more than two dozen federal judges before the end of the year.
