Senate gridlock and federal judicial selection

Notre Dame Law Review

Volumn 88, Issue 5, 2013, Pages 2233-2266

  Tobias, Carl ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND   (United States)

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 84883276587     PISSN: 07453515     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (389)

1. Gordon Bermant et al., Judicial Vacancies: An Examination of the Problem and Possible Solutions, 14 MISS. C. L. REV. 319 (1994);
2. MILLER CTR. COMM'N ON THE SELECTION OF FED. JUDGES, IMPROVING THE PROCESS FOR APPOINTING FEDERAL JUDGES (1996)
3. [hereinafter MILLER REPORT]
4. I rely in this piece on these sources and Carl Tobias, Federal Judicial Selection in a Time of Divided Government, 47 EMORY L. J. 527 (1998).
5. I stress this dimension. The persistent idea needs less treatment; some delay is intrinsic, resists easy solution, and has been assessed. Bermant et al., supra note 1; Comm, on Fed. Courts, Remedying the Permanent Vacancy Problem in the FederalJudiciary: The Problem of Judicial Vacancies and Its Causes, 42 REC. ASS'N B. CITY N. Y. 374 (1987)
6. [hereinafter N. Y. CITY BAR];
7. see SARAH BINDER & FORREST MALTZMAN, ADVICE & DISSENT: THE STRUGGLE TO SHAPE THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY 2-6 (2009).
8. See MILLER REPORT, supra note 1, at 3;
9. see also Carl W. Tobias, The New Certiorari and a National Study of the Appeals Courts, 81 CORNELL L. REV. 1264, 1268-70 (1996).
10. See generally Martha J. Dragich, Once a Century: Time for a Structural Overhaul of the Federal Courts, 1996 WIS. L. REV. 11, 23-24, 36-37, 39 (1996) (discussing expansion of federal courts).
11. See, e.g., Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Pub. L. No. 103-322, 108 Stat. 1796;
12. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-336, 104 Stat. 327;
13. see also William P. Marshall, Federalization: A Critical Overview, 44 DEPAUL L. REV. 719, 719-21 (1995);
14. Elliot E. Slotnick, Appellate Judicial Selection During the Bush Administration: Business as Usual or a Nuclear Winter?, 48 ARIZ. L. REV. 225, 238, 241 (2006);
15. Jeffrey Toobin, Bench Press: Are Obama's Judges Really Liberals?, NEW YORKER (Sept. 21, 2009), http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/09/21/090921fa- fact-toobin.
16. 28 U. S. C. § 44 (2006);
17. see also 155 CONG. REC. S1653 (daily ed. Feb. 5, 2009);
18. U. S. SENATE COMM, ON THE JUDICIARY, JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS AND CONFIRMATIONS, SENATE GOV (Jun. 27, 2013) http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/ nominations/judicial.cfm [hereinafter Vacancies in the Federal Judiciary]
19. See JUD. CONF. OF THE UNITED STATES, LONG RANGE PLAN FOR THE FEDERAL COURTS 103 (1995).
20. David R. Stras & Ryan W. Scott, Navigating the New Politics of Judicial Appointments, 102 NW. U. L. REV. 1869, 1896-98 (2008).
21. E.g., Sheldon Goldman, Judicial Confirmation Wars: Ideology and the Battle for the Federal Courts, 39 U. RICH. L. REV. 871, 904-08 (2004);
22. Orrin G. Hatch, The Constitution as the Playbook for Judicial Selection, 32 HARV. J. L. & PUB. POL'Y 1035, 1038 (2009);
23. David Ingram, Stealth War over Judges, NAT'L L. J, Feb. 15, 2010, at 1.
24. I rely here on Bermant et al., supra note 1; Sheldon Goldman, Obama and the Federal Judiciary: Great Expectations But Will He Have a Dickens of a Time Living up to Them?, 7 FORUM 2, 9-11 (2009);
25. Carl Tobias, The Federal Appellate Court Appointments Conundrum, 2005 UTAH L. REV. 743 (2005).
26. See MILLER REPORT, supra note 1;
27. see also ABA, STANDING COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL JUDICIARY: WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT WORKS (1983);
28. Sheldon Goldman et al., W. Bush's Judicial Legacy, 92 JUDICATURE 258, 274 (2009).
29. THE FEDERALIST NO. 76, at 414 (Alexander Hamilton) (E. H. Scott ed., 1898);
30. see also CHRISTOPHER L. EISGRUBER, THE NEXT JUSTICE: REPAIRING THE SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENTS PROCESS (2007);
31. MICHAEL J. GERHARDT, THE FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS PROCESS 28 (2000);
32. SHELDON GOLDMAN, PICKING FEDERALJUDGES (1997);
33. JAN CRAWFORD GREENBURG, SUPREME CONFLICT: THE INSIDE STORY OF THE STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT (2007).
34. DAVID O'BRIEN, JUDICIAL ROULETTE: REPORT OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY FUND TASK FORCE ON JUDICIAL SELECTION 20 (1988);
35. accord GOLDMAN, supra note 11, at 207 (citations omitted);
36. Roger Hartley & Lisa M. Holmes, Increasing Senate Scrutiny of Lower Federal Court Nominees, 80 JUDICATURE 274, 275 (1997);
37. See generally, e.g., MARK H. GITENSTEIN, MATTERS OF PRINCIPLE: AN INSIDER'S ACCOUNT OF AMERICA'S REJECTION OF ROBERT BORK'S NOMINATION TO THE SUPREME COURT (1992);
38. JEFFREY TOOBIN, THE NINE: INSIDE THE SECRET WORLD OF THE SUPREME COURT 18 (2007);
39. see also David R. Stras, Understanding the New Politics of Judicial Appointments, 86 TEX. L. REV. 1033, 1057-72 (2008).
40. Press Release, White House, Office of the Press Sec'y, President Clinton Nominates 22 for the Federal Bench (Jan. 7, 1997);
41. Remarks Announcing Nominations for the Federal Judiciary, 1 PUB. PAPERS 504-05 (May 9, 2001), available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/PPP-2001- bookl/PPP-2001-bookl-doc-pg504/content-detail.html; see also Slotnick, supra note 4, at 243. See generally infra notes 17-18, 20, and accompanying text
42. Vacancies in the Federal Judiciary, supra note 5 (for years 1997 and 2001);
43. see also James Oliphant, Obama Losing Chance to Reshape Judiciary, L. A. TIMES (Mar. 15, 2010), http://articles.latimes.eom/2010/mar/15/nation/la-na- obamajudgesl5-2010marl5. Each failed to nominate for all openings, but nominating more than would be processed was futile. They calibrated speed and scrutiny, as controversial nominees can delay the process.
44. GOP senators demanded input and even sent names. Neil A. Lewis, Clinton Has a Chance to Shape the Courts, N. Y. TIMES (Feb. 9, 1997), http://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/09/us/clinton-has-a-chance-to-shape-the-courts. html;
45. see also 143 CONG. REC. S2541 (daily ed. Mar. 19, 1997) (statement of Sen. Joe Biden).
46. S. J. Cahn, Cox Passes on a Judicial Seat, DAILY PILOT (May 26, 2001), http://articles.dailypilot.com/2001-05-26/news/export48535-l-rejxoxjudicial- nominationjudicialseat;
47. David L. Greene & Thomas Healy, Bush Sends Judge List to Senate, BALT. SUN (May 10, 2001), http://artides.baltimoresun. eom/2001-05-10/news/ 0105100112-1-senate-democrats-appeals-court-confirmation-process;
48. Henry Weinstein & Faye Fiore, Rep. Cox Likely Judicial Nominee, LA. TIMES (Apr. 5, 2001), http://articles.ladmes.com/2001/apr/05/news/mn-47161; see also Slotnick, supra note 4, at 234; Stras & Scott, supra note 7, at 1901; Press Release, White House Office of the Press Sec'y, supra note 14.
49. Paul A. Gigot, How Feinstein is Repaying Bush on Judges, WALL ST. J., May 9, 2001, at A26;
50. Neil A. Lewis, Party Leaders Clash in Capitol Over Pace of Filling Judgeships, N. Y. TIMES (May 10, 2002), http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/10/us/ party-leaders-clash-in-capitolover-pace-of-filling-judgeships.html; see also Tobias, supra note 9, at 764.
51. Terry Carter, A Conservative Juggernaut, A. BA. J., June 1997, at 32;
52. N. Lee Cooper, Standing Up to Critical Scrutiny, A. BA. J., Apr. 1997, at 6;
53. see also Editorial, The ABA Plots a Judicial Coup, WALL. ST. J. (Aug. 14, 2008), http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121867190633 138889.html.
54. Letter from Alberto Gonzales, White House Counsel, to Martha Barnett, ABA President (Mar. 22, 2001), available at http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id= 93754&page=l;
55. see also Laura E. Littie, The ABA's Role in Prescreening Federal Judicial Candidates: Are We Ready to Give Up on the Lawyers?, 10 WM. & MARY BILL RTS. J. 37 (2001);
56. Carl Tobias, Choosing Federal Judges in the Second Clinton Administration, 24 HASTINGS CONST. L. Q. 741, 742 (1997).
57. Senator Joseph Biden (D-Del.), the Judiciary Committee Chair between 1987 and 1994, stated that the committee conducted two hearings every month. See 143 CONG. REC. S2538, S2539 (daily ed. Mar. 19, 1997).
58. Tobias, supra note 21; see Neil A. Lewis, Bush and Democrats in Senate Trade Blame for Judge Shortage, N. Y. TIMES (May 4, 2002), http://www.nytimes. com/2002/05/04/us/bushand-democrats-in-senate-trade-blame-forjudge-shortage. html;
59. Editorial, A Judicial Nominations Scorecard, WASH. POST, Aug. 9, 2002, available at http://www.highbeam.com/doc/lP2-380904.html. Nominees, who will enjoy life tenure and exercise the enormous power of the state, deserve scrutiny to insure that they are qualified.
60. N. Y. CITY BAR, supra note 2, at 374. Vacancies had a statistically significant nine percent effect on circuit workloads between 1970 and 1992. Bermant et al., supra note 1, at 327; supra note 7;
61. see Carl Tobias, Op. Ed., Act on Judges, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, Dec. 31, 2011, at B7;
62. Editorial, Vacancies Must Be Filled Quickly, ARIZONA REPUBLIC (Aug. 7, 2011), http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/ 20110807vacancieseditorial.html.
63. Ted Gest et al., The GOP's Judicial Freeze, U. S. NEWS & WORLD REP., May 26, 1997, at 23;
64. Robert A. Schmidt, The Costs of Judicial Delay, LEGAL TIMES, Apr. 28, 1997;
65. see also Gary Fields and John R. Emshwiller, Criminal Case Glut Impedes Civil Suits, WALL ST. J. (Nov. 10, 2011), http://online.wsj.com/arucle/ SB10001424052970204505304577001771159867642.html.
66. See, e.g., Carl Tobias, Filling the Federal Appellate Openings on the 9th Circuit, 19 REV. LITIG. 233, 251 (2000);
67. David G. Savage, Rehnquist Chides GOP for Judicial Stalling L. A. TIMES, Jan. 1, 1998, at A1.
68. WILLIAM REHNQUIST, YEAR-END REPORT ON THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY (1997 & 2001), available at http://www.supremecourt.gov/publicinfo/year-end/year- endreports.aspx; Slotnick, supra note 4, at 233;
69. see also Linda Greenhouse, Rehnquist Sees a Loss of Prospective Judges, N. Y. TIMES (Jan. 1, 2002), http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/01/us/rehnquist- seesa-loss-of-prospective-judges.html. For some analogous views
70. see A. B. A., REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES (2008), available at http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/leadership/2008/annual/ recommendations/OneHundredEighteen. doc& sa=U&ei= S8YrUYmKIOW70QHAmoGQBw&ved=0CBgQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNH6kzNAEfP0 QG5CtOkSCaJEdbzYsA;
71. Alfred P. Carlton, Jr., More and Faster-Now: The Crisis in the Federal Judiciary, A. B. A. J., Apr. 2003, at 8; infra note 141.
72. Jon Ward, White House Beefs up Legal Staff, WASH. TIMES (July 21, 2009), http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/21/white-house-beefs-up-legal-s taff/?feat=home-headlines.
73. I rely much in this subsection on the following: Sheldon Goldman et al., Obama's Judiciary at Midterm, 94 JUDICATURE 262 (2011);
74. Charlie Savage, Obama Lags on Judicial Picks, Limiting His Mark on Courts, N. Y. TIMES (Aug. 17, 2012), http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/18/us/ politics/obama-lags-on-filling-seats-in-the-judiciary.html?pagewanted=all;
75. Peter Baker & Adam Nagoumey, Sotomayor Pick a Product of Lessons from Past Battles, N. Y. TIMES (May 27, 2009), http://www.nytimes. com/2009/05/28/us/politics/28select.html?pagewanted=all;
76. Jonathan Bernstein, Op-Ed., Empty Bench Syndrome, N. Y. TIMES (Feb. 8, 2011), http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/opinion/09Bemstein.html.
77. Peter Baker & Jeff Zeleny, Obama Hails Judge as "Inspiring" , N. Y. TIMES (May 26, 2009), http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/us/politics/ 27court.html?pagewanted=all;
78. tKeith Kofller, Biden's Staff to Play Key Role in Sotomayor Confirmation, ROLL CALL (May 26, 2009), http://www.rollcall.com/news/-35256-l.html; see generally Gitenstein, supra note 13 (recounting Robert Bork's nomination).
79. JEFFREY TOOBIN, OATH: THE OBAMA WHITE HOUSE AND THE SUPREME COURT 46 (2012);
80. Terry Carter, Do-Over After an Eight-Year Pause, the ABA is Again Vetting Possible Federal Bench Nominees, A. B. A. J., May 2009, at 62;
81. Doug Kendall, Confirmation Warriors: What's the Endgame for Obama's Judicial Nominees?, SLATE (Oct. 8, 2010), http://www.slate.com/articles/news- and-politics/jurisprudence/2010/10/confirmation-warriors.html;
82. see also Josh Gerstein, Right Sees Law Group Tilting Left, POUNCO (Sept 27, 2010), http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42709.html (discussing ABA viewpoints); supra note 20; infra note 112 and accompanying text.
83. I rely below on Nancy Scherer, Diversifying the Federal Bench: Is Universal Legitimacy far the U. S. Justice System Possible?, 105 NW. U. L. REV. 587 (2011);
84. Carl Tobias, Diversity and the Federal Bench, 87 WASH. U. L. REV. 1197 (2010);
85. Bob Egelko, Feinstein Taps Bipartisan Panels to Pick Judges, S. F. GATE (Jan. 5, 2009), http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Feinstein-taps- bipartisan-panels-to-pick-judges-3177869.php;
86. WIS. FED. NOMINATING COMM'N CHARTER (2008);
87. see also Goldman, supra note 9 (describing this process); RACHEL GAUFIELD, INSIDE MERIT SELECTION (AJS 2012) (same);
88. RUSSELL WHEELER & REBECCA LOVE KOURLIS, OPTIONS FOR FEDERAL JUDICIAL SCREENING COMMITTEES (IAALS 2010) (same); see also infra note 34 (same); infra notes 81-83, 105-06, 113 and accompanying text (same).
89. See Tricia Bishop, Davis Confirmed to 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, BALT. SUN (Nov. 10, 2009), http://articles.baltimoresun. eom/2009-ll-10/news/bal-md. davisl0novl0-1-andremaurice-davis-appeals-court-appellate-bench (discussing diversity of Judge Andre Davis); Egelko, supra note 31 (discussing judicial diversity);
90. Joe Ryan, U. S. Senate Confirms Judge Joseph Greenaway Jr. for Federal Appeals Court, STAR-LEDGER (Feb. 9, 2010), http://www.nj. com/news/index.ssf/ 2010/02/new-jerseyjudge-joseph-greena.html (discussing Judge Joseph Greenaway); infra notes 61-64.
91. Some officials, namely Texas GOP Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Comyn, even suggested names. See, e.g., Todd J. Gillman, Texas' Open U. S. Attorney Posts Languish Under President Barack Obama, DALLAS MORNING NEWS (Aug. 8, 2010), http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/local-politics/20100808-Texas- open-U-S-7378.ece (discussing GOP senators' suggestion of names);
92. Gary Martin, Obama Nominates First Federal Judge for Texas, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (July 14, 2010), http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/article/ Obama-nominates-first-federal-judge-for-Texas-783165.php (regarding GOP senators' recommendation of Judge Diana Saldaña);
93. see also David Fontana, Judging Obama's Second Term, HUFF. POST (Nov. 14, 2012), http://www.huffingtonpost.com/davidfontana/obama-judicial-appomtments- 2nd-term-b-2131912.html (describing roles of White and Senate in the nominating process).
94. See Letter from Prof. Bruce Ackerman, et al., to President Barack Obama (Feb. 24, 2010), available at http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/ documents/lettertopresidentobama022410.pdf;
95. David Fontana, Obama Should Pack the (Lower) Courts, NEW REPUBLIC (Mar. 13, 2012), http://www.newrepublic.com/article/politics/101566/obamasymposium- judge-appointment-federal-court;
96. Neil A. Lewis, Move to Limit Clinton's Judicial Choices Fails, N. Y. TIMES (Apr. 30, 1997), http://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/30/us/moveto-limit- clinton-s-judicial-choices-fails.html;
97. RICHARD POSNER, THE FEDERAL COURTS 81-93 (1985);
98. Arthur D. Heilman, The Shrunken Docket of the Rehnquist Court, 1996 SUP. CT. REV. 403 (1996);
99. Press Release, White House, Office of the Press Sec'y, President Obama Announces Judge Gerard Lynch for United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Judge Andre Davis for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, (Apr. 2, 2009), available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press- office/President-Obama-Announces-Judge-Ge rard-Lynch-for-United-States-Court-of- Appeals-for-the-Second-Circuit-Judge-Andre-Davis-for-the-United-States-Court-of- Appeals;
100. Press Release, White House, Office of the Press Sec'y, President Obama Nominates JudgeJoseph A. Greenaway, Jr. for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and Judge Beverly B. Martin for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, (June 19, 2009), available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidentobama-nominatesj'udge- joseph-a-greenaway-jr-third-circuit-and-judge-bever.
101. See supra text accompanying note 15; see also Editorial, Congress Needs to Stop Stonewalling on Federal Court Vacancies, WASH. POST (Sept. 9, 2010), http://www.washingtonpost com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/08/AR2010090806476. html (describing Obama's nomination of smaller groups of candidates).
102. See, e.g., Peter Baker & Jeff Zeleny, Obama Picks Kagan as Justice Nominee, N. Y. TIMES (May 9, 2010), http://www.nytimes.eom/2010/05/10/us/ politics/10courLhtml (discussing nomination of Justice Elena Kagan);
103. Paul Kane & Robert Barnes, Senate Confirms Elena Kagan's Nomination to Supreme Court, WASH. POST (Aug. 6, 2010), http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- dyn/content/artide/2010/08/05/AR2010080505247.html (discussing Justice Elena Kagan's swearing in ceremony);
104. Shailagh Murray & Michael D. Shear, First Latina Picked for Supreme Court; GOP Faces Delicate Task in Opposition, WASH. POST (May 27, 2009), http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-05-27/news/36845463-1-group-ofwhite- firefighters-sonia-sotomayor-firefighters-case (discussing nomination of Justice Sonia Sotomayor);
105. Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Sotomayor, a Trailblazer and a Dreamer, N. Y. TIMES (May 26, 2009), http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/us/politics/27websotomayor. html (detailing the life of Justice Sonia Sotomayor).
106. Neil A. Lewis, Bush Appeals for Peace on His Picks for the Bench, N. Y. TIMES (May 10, 2001), http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/10/us/bush-appealsfor- peace-on-his-picks-for-the-bench.html;
107. Charlie Savage, Obama Backers Fear Opportunities to Reshape Judiciary Are Slipping Away, N. Y. TIMES (Nov. 14, 2009), http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/ us/politics/15judicial.html;
108. see generally Sheldon Goldman et al., W. Bush: Remaking the Judiciary: Like Father Like Son?, 86 JUDICATURE 282 (2003) (detailing President George W. Bush's philosophy in seating federal judges).
109. See Jeffrey Toobin, One Year: Where Are the Judges?, NEW YORKER (Jan. 20, 2010), http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2010/01/one-year-where- are-thejudges.html;
110. Letter from President Barack Obama to Sen. Harry Reid et al., (Sept. 30, 2010) [hereinafter Obama Letter];
111. David G. Savage, Senate Face-Off Is Due overJudicial Nominee, LA. TTIMES (Nov. 16, 2009), http://articles.latimes.eom/2009/nov/16/nation/najudges16.
112. Maureen Groppe, No Sparks Fly at Hearing, INDIANAPOLIS STAR (Apr. 30, 2009), http://www.indystar.eom/article/20090430/NEWS05/904300456/No-sparks-fly- hearing;
113. David Ingram, Switching Teams: Specter's Move Upsets GOP Judge Strategy, NAT'L L. J., May 4, 2009, at LT1; see Toobin, supra note 4; infra note 102. For audio of Liu's confirmation hearing
114. see Senate Judiciary Comm., Hearing Before the SenateJudiciary Committee on Goodwin Liu to be a Judge for the Ninth Circuit (Mar. 2, 2011), http://www.senate.gov/fplayers/Comm-Player/commFlashPlayer.cfm?fn= judiciary030211p&st=xxx.
115. See also Richard Painter, Qualified, Measured, and Mainstream: Why the Senate Should Confirm Goodwin Liu, HUFF. POST (Mar. 2, 2011, 8:39 AM), http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-painter/qualified-measured-and-ma-b- 829298.html; Savage, supra note 27; infra note 136.
116. Nominations of James A. Wynn, Jr., Nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; And Albert Diaz, Nominee to be United States Circuit Court Judge for the Fourth Circuit: Hearing Before the Senate Comm, on the Judiciary, 111th Cong.. (2009), available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/ CHRG-11lshrg63004/html/CHRG-11lshrg63004.htm;
117. Barbara Barrett, Senate Approves Wynn for Fourth Circuit, Diaz Still Waits, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, Aug. 6, 2010.
118. Hearing, supra note 41; Hearing Before the Senate Judiciary Comm, on Barbara Milano Keenan to be a Judge for the Fourth Circuit (Oct. 7, 2009), http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id= e655f9e2809e5476862f735dal5120db;
119. Nomination of Barbara Milano Keenan, Nominee to be U. S. Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit: Hearing Before the Senate Judiciary Comm., 111th Cong.. (2009), available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-111shrg63004/html/CHRG- lllshrg63004.htm;
120. Senate Judiciary Comm., Exec. Business Mtg., (Oct. 29, 2009): see id., Oct. 22, 2009 (holding over Keenan); id., Dec. 17, 2009 (Sessions found Democrats' urging Keenan's confirmation like a child who murders his parents and complains that he is an orphan); id, Jan. 21, 2010 (holding over Diaz and Wynn); id., Nov. 29, 2012 (providing one recent example of GOP holding over 5 nominees); Ingram, supra note 8 (providing other examples).
121. Goldman et al., supra note 27; 156 CONG. REC. S904 (daily ed. Mar. 2, 2010) (statement of Sen. Patrick Leahy);
122. see also George Packer, The Empty Chamber: Just How Broken Is the Senate?, NEW YORKER (Aug. 9, 2010), http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/ 09/100809fa-fact-packer (describing this opposition); Savage, supra note 27 (same).
123. I rely here and below on Senator Leahy's statement, supra note 43; Joan Biskupic, Republicans Lead Obama in War for Judicial Dominance, CHI. TRIB. (Oct. 5, 2012), http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-10-05/news/sns-rt-us-usa- obama-appealscourtsbre89405e-20121004-1-caitlin-halligan-elena-kagan-appeals- courts;
124. Michael A. Fletcher, Obama Criticized as Too Cautious, Slow on Judicial Posts, WASH. POST (Oct. 16, 2009), http://www.washingtonpost.eom/wp-dyn/content/ article/2009/10/15/AR2009101504083.html.
125. 155 CONG. REC. S9541 (daily ed. Sept. 17, 2009). Judges Andre Davis and Joseph Greenaway did wait longer. Id. at SI 1, 282 (daily ed. Nov. 9, 2009);
126. CONG. REC. S510 (daily ed. Feb. 9, 2010);
127. Carl Tobias, Op.-Ed., Fill the 4th Circuit's 'Vacancies Now, BALT. SUN, Oct. 6, 2009, at A13, available at http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/ InfoWebPp-action=doc&p-topdoc=l&p-docnum=l&p-sort=YMD-date: D&p-product=NewsBank&p-text-direct-0=document-id= %28%2012B3250E752B4078%20%29&p-docid=12B3250E75 2B4078&p-theme= aggdocs&p-queryname=12B3250E752B4078&f-openurl=yes&p-nbid= 053F4BNHMTM2MzAOODQwNi42NDQ3MTQ6MToxMToxNDEuMTY2LjAuMA&&p-mulu=MBDB;
128. supra notes 32, 35. But see 156 CONG. REC. at S519 (daily ed. Feb. 9, 2010) (statement of Sen. Jeff Sessions) (commenting on Judge Greenaway's appointment). Others waited much longer. See Obama Letter, supra note 39; infra notes 57, 59, and accompanying text.
129. 156 CONG. REC. S13 (daily ed. Jan. 20, 2010);
130. see James Fallows, American Dysfunction Watch: State of the Judiciary, ATLANTIC (June 5, 2012, 8:19 A. M.), http://www.theadantic. com/politics/ archive/2012/06/american-dysfunction-watch-state-of-thejudiciary/2580 73/ (discussing length of vacancies);
131. Bill Rankin, Senate OKs Martin for U. S. Appeals Court, ATLANTA J. CONST., Jan. 21, 2010, at B4 (discussing unanimous confirmation of Judge Beverly Martin).
132. 156 CONG. REC. S908, S910 (daily ed. Mar. 2, 2010);
133. see THOMAS E. MANN & NORMAN J. ORNSTEIN, IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN IT LOOKS: HOW THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM COLLIDED WITH THE NEW POLITICS OF EXTREMISM 94 (2012);
134. Amanda Becker, Senators' Use of "Anonymous Hold" Contributes to Backlog of Stalled Judicial Nominations, WASH. POST (Sept. 27, 2010), http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/24/AR201009 2406035.html (discussing stalling of judicial nominees);
135. Doug Kendall, The Bench in Purgatory: The New Republican Obstructionism on Obama's Judicial Nominees, SLATE (Oct. 26, 2009), http://www.slate.com/ articles/news-and-politics/jurisprudence/2009/10/the-bench-in-purgatory.html (same).
136. But see 156 CONG. REC. at S519, supra note 45.
137. Dana Milbank, Filibusted, WASH. POST (Nov. 18, 2009), http://articles.washington post.com/2009-ll-18/opinions/36835604-1-filibuster- nominees-republican-senators;
138. Carl Tobias, Op. Ed., Ending "Confirmation Wars": Despite Rancor Over Hamilton Nomination, There are Signs These Fights May Be Over, BALT. SUN, Nov. 30, 2009, at A15;
139. see also David Fontana, Going Robe, NEW REPUBLIC (Dec. 17, 2009), http://www.newrepublic.com/article/environment-energy/going-robe (discussing this delay); Kendall, supra note 29 (same).
140. Toobin, supra note 29, at 121-22; Press Release, White House, Office of the Press Sec'y, President Obama Announces David Hamilton for the United States 7th Circuit Court of Appeals (Mar. 17, 2009), available at http://www. whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-announces-david-hamilton-united- states-7th-circuit-court-appeals;
141. Michael A. Fletcher, Obama Names Judge to Appeals Court, WASH. POST (Mar. 18, 2009), http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/17/ AR2009031703031.html;
142. Neil A. Lewis, Moderate Is Said to Be Pick for Court, N. Y. TIMES (Mar. 17, 2009), http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/us/politics/17nominate.html; Savage, supra note 27;
143. see Al Kamen, Filling Partisan Benches, WASH. POST (Aug. 12, 2011), http://articles.washington post.com/2011-08-12/politics/35271236-1-downgrade- russian-prime-minister-paddypower (discussing lack of nominations).
144. 156 CONG. REC. S904, supra note 43; Fletcher, supra note 44; Savage, supra note 39; Toobin, supra note 4.
145. 155 CONG. REC. S11, 412-14 (daily ed. Nov. 17, 2009) (statement of Sen. Jeff Sessions);
146. CONG. REC. S10. 753 (daily ed. Oct. 27, 2009) (same);
147. see infra note 71 and accompanying text; 156 CONG. REC. S10. 868, 10, 870, 10, 887 (daily ed. Dec. 21, 2010) (statement of Sen. Jeff Sessions) ("[I]t seems if you have the ACLU DNA, you get a pretty good leg up on being nominated by this President⋯. [W]e keep seeing the ACLU chromosome.").
148. 155 CONG. REC. S11, 421-22 (daily ed. Nov. 17, 2009);
149. 155 CONG. REC. at S11, 414-15 (daily ed. Nov. 17, 2009);
150. see Hinrichs v. Bosma, 400 F. Supp. 2d 1103 (S. D. Ind. 2005);
151. Editorial, Thank Allah It's Friday, WASH. TIMES (Jan. 22, 2010), http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jan/22/thank-allah-its-friday/;
152. see also Nan Aron, Op-Ed., GOP Senators Perfect Art of Stalling, POLITICO (Feb. 2, 2010, 5:12 AM), http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/32342.html (describing this incident);
153. Dahlia Lithwick, Jesus vs. Allah: The Fight Over God's Secular Title, SLATE (Nov. 22, 2009), http://www.slate.com/articles/news-and-poli tics/jurisprudence/2009/ll/jesus-vs-allah.html (assessing Judge Hamilton's opinion).
154. 155 CONG. REC. at S11, 411-12 (daily ed. Nov. 17, 2009) (statement of Sen. Evan Bayh); see also Fletcher, supra note 44; Obama Letter, supra note 39.
155. 155 CONG. REC. S11, 544, 11, 552 (daily ed. Nov. 19, 2009);
156. see Kate Phillips, Hamilton Confirmed for Appeals Court, N. Y. TIMES (Nov. 20, 2009), http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res= 9B05E6DC103FF933A15752ClA96F9C8B63; infra note 88 and accompanying text (affording effects of cloture's use).
157. Judge Jane Stranch was treated similarly tojudge Diaz. 156 CONG. REC. S6011 (daily ed. July 20, 2010) (statement of Sen. Lamar Alexander);
158. CONG. REC. S558 (daily ed. Feb. 13, 2012) (discussingjudgeJordán);
159. DOJ OFFICE LEGAL POL'Y, JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS (2009-2012), available at http://www.jusuce.gov/archive/olp/judicialnominations112.htm (detailing judicial nomination statistics);
160. Letter from Edward DuMont, Partner at Wilmer Hale, to President Barack Obama, Nov. 4, 2011; Savage, supra note 27;
161. Bruce Vielmetti, Nourse Asks Obama to Withdraw her Nomination to Federal Appeals Court, MILWAUKEE J. SENTINEL (Jan. 19, 2012), available at http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/137702938.html (detailing letter from Prof. Victoria Nourse to President Barack Obama); infra note 91.
162. Vacancies in the Federal Judiciary, supra note 5 (for years 2009-2013);
163. see DOJ OFFICE LEGAL POL'Y, supra note 57 (detailing nominations); Savage, supra note 38 (same); infra note 91 and accompanying text (same).
164. See generally Doug Kendall, Fill the Bench Now, SLATE (Feb. 5, 2010), http://www.slate.com/articles/news-and-politics/jurisprudence/2010/02/ fill-the-bench-now.html (discussing nominations from President Obama).
165. Appointees in 2009 were Davis, Hamilton, and Lynch; 2010 were Denny Chin, Diaz, Greenaway, Keenan, Raymond Lohier, Martin, Scott Matheson, Mary Murguia, Kathleen O'Malley, Stranch, O. Rogeriee Thompson, Thomas Vanaskie, and Wynn; 2011 were Susan Carney, Morgan Christen, Bemice Donald, Christopher Droney, Henry Floyd, James Graves, Stephen Higginson, Jimmie Reyna, and Evan Wallach; and 2012 were Andrew Hurwitz, Jordán, Jacqueline Nguyen, Stephanie Thacker, and Paul Watford. DOJ OFFICE LEGAL POL'Y, supra note 57; Savage, supra note 27.
166. The crucial need to have all Justices for the 2009 term was exacerbated with the September 9th argument over Citizens United v. FEC, 558 U. S. 310 (2010).
167. See, e.g., David G. Savage, Hilary: The Law Changer, 95 A. B. A. J. 24 (2009) (discussing Citizens United,);
168. Robert Barnes & Dan Eggen, Court Rejects Corporate Political Spending Limits, WASH. POST (Jan. 22, 2010), http://articles.washingtonpost.eom/2010-01- 22/politics/36798985-1-corporations-free-speech-majority-cast (same);
169. Adam Liptak, Justices, 5-4, Reject Corporate Spending Limit, N. Y. TIMES (Jan. 21, 2010), http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/us/politics/22scotus.html (same); Toobin, supra note 39; see also supra note 37.
170. The thirteen are Robert Chatigny, Chin, Donald, Droney, Greenaway, Jordán, Martin, Murguia, O'Malley, and Vanaskie, and the 2009 appointees. See supra note 59. The Magistrate Judges are Robert Bacharach and Patty Shwartz. Nguyen was also an Obama district appointee. See DOJ OFFICE LEGAL POL'Y, supra note 57;
171. Emily Bazelon, The Supreme Court's Painful Season, N. Y. TIMES (Aug. 5, 2011), www.nytimes.eom/2011/08/07/magazine/the-supreme-courts-painful-season. html (discussing President Obama's Supreme Court Justices);
172. Sherilynn A. Ifill, Storming the Court?, THE ROOT (Nov. 18, 2009, 6:43 AM), http://www.theroot.com/views/storming-court (arguing that President Obama should appoint liberal judges to counter conservative judges).
173. The seven are Christen, Diaz, Graves, Hurwitz, Keenan, Thompson, and Wynn. Elevation is a venerable tool. Federal judges have Senate approval, accessible records, and prompt FBI and ABA review. See Tobias, supra note 21, at 752; Neil A. Lewis, Bush Picking the Kind of Judges Reagan Favored, N. Y. TIMES (Apr. 10, 1990), http://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/10/us/bush-picking-the-kind- ofjudges-reagan-favored.html;
174. Ruth Marcus, Bush Quietly Fosters Conservative Trend in Courts, WASH. POST, Feb. 18, 1991, at A1;
175. But see David Fontana & Micah Schwartzman, Old World, NEW REPUBUC (July 17, 2009), www.newrepublic.com/article/politics/old-world (arguing that President Obama should appoint younger federal judges). For a "career judiciary", see Goldman, supra note 38, at 305;
176. RUSSELL WHEELER, THE CHANGING FACE OF THE FEDERAL BENCH 7-9 (Brookings Inst. 2009), available at http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/ papers/2009/8/federal-judiciary-wheeler/08-federaljudiciary-wheeler.pdf.
177. See ABA STANDING COMM, ON THE JUDICIARY, RATINGS OF ARTICLE III JUDICIAL NOMINEES, 111TH CONG. (2010);
178. ABA STANDING COMM, ON THEJUDICIARY, RATINGS OF ARTICLE III JUDICIAL NOMINEES, 112TH CONG. (2012).
179. Davis, Donald, Graves, Greenaway, Lohier, Thompson, Watford, and Wynn are African Americans. Chin, Liu, Nguyen, and Sri Srinivasan are Asian Americans. Diaz, Jordán, Murguia, and Reyna are Latinos. Carney, Christen, Donald, Caitlin Halligan, Keenan, Martin, Murguia, Nguyen, Nourse, O'Malley, Jill Pryor, Shwartz, Stranch, Thacker, and Thompson are women. Edward DuMont is openly gay. See John Schwartz, For Obama, a Record on Diversity But Delays on Judicial Confirmations, N. Y. TIMES (Aug. 7, 2011), http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/us/ politics/07courts.html. Obama's efforts, such as increasing diversity and consultation, resemble Clinton's.
180. See Sheldon Goldman, Judicial Selection Under Clinton: A Midterm Examination, 78 JUDICATURE 276, 276 (1995);
181. See 156 CONG. REC. S904
182. See Theresa M. Beiner, The Elusive (But Worthwhile) Quest for a Diverse Bench in the New Millennium, 36 U. C. DAVIS L. REV. 597, 599-600, 610-17 (2003);
183. Tracey E. George, Court Fixing, 43 ARIZ. L. REV. 9, 19-21 (2001).
184. See, e.g., Pat K Chew & Robert E. Kelley, Myth of the Color-Blind Judge: An Empirical Analysis of Racial Harassment Cases, 86 WASH. U. L. REV. 1117 (2009);
185. Mark Curriden, Tipping the Scales, A. B. A. J., July 2010, at 37, 42 (2010);
186. Madhavi McCall, Structuring Gender's Impact: Judicial Voting Across Criminal Justice Cases, 36 AM. POLITICS RESEARCH 264 (2008);
187. Jennifer L. Peresie, Note, Female Judges Matter. Gender and Collegial Decisionmaking in the Federal Appellate Courts, 114 YALE L. J. 1759 (2005);
188. Lauren Collins, Number Nine, NEW YORKER (Jan. 11, 2010), http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/01/11/1001llfa-fact-collins;
189. sources cited supra note 30. But see Stephen J. Choi et al., Judging Women, 8 J. EMPIRICAL LEGAL STUD. 504 (2011).
190. See, e.g., STEPHEN BREYER, MAKING OUR DEMOCRACY WORK (2010);
191. DAVID A. STRAUSS, THE LIVING CONSTITUTION (2010);
192. Lynne N. Henderson, Legality and Empathy, 85 MICH. L. REV. 1574 (1987);
193. Cass R. Sunstein, The Hidden Stakes of the Election, N. Y. REV. BKS. (Oct. 9, 2012), http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/oct/09/hidden-stakes- election/.
194. But see ANTONIN SCALIA & BRYAN GARNER, READING LAW (2012);
195. Curt Levey, Living Constitution, RI. P., NAT'L REV. (Sept. 30, 2005, 4:09 PM), http://old.nationalreview.com/comment/levey200509301609.asp; infra note 72.
196. He may find political branches better adopt social change than unelected judges. Justin Driver, Obama's Law, NEW REPUBLIC (June 30, 2011), http://www.newrepublic.com/article/polidcs/magazine/89647/obama-legal- philosophy-laurence-tribe; Toobin, supra note 4. Sotomayor and some circuit picks disavowed empathy.
197. CONG. REC. S520 (daily ed. Feb. 9, 2010) (statement of Sen. Jeff Sessions); see supra text accompanying notes 35-38.
198. Herman Schwartz, Federal Judiciary Failures, NATION (Jan. 2, 2013), http://www.thenation. com/artide/171976/obamas-federal-judiciary-failures;
199. Russell Wheeler, How Might the Obama Administration Affect the Composition of the U. S. Courts of Appeals?, BROOKINGS INST. (Mar. 18, 2009), http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2009/03/18-courtswheeler. His elections could be mandates for more balance.
200. See Report of the First Circuit, Gender, Race and Ethnic Bias Task Forces, 9 B. U. PUB. INT. L. J. 173 (1999);
201. FINAL REPORT, NINTH CIRCUIT TASK FORCE ON RACIAL, REUGIOUS & ETHNIC FAIRNESS (1997).
202. See generally REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COURTS STUDY COMMITTEE 169-70 (1990) available at www.fjc.gov.public/pdf.nsf/lookup/repfcsc.pdf/file/repfesc.pdf. (advocating education of judges on racial, ethnic, and gender discrimination).
203. See, e.g., Sheldon Goldman, A Profile of Cartels Judicial Nominees, 62 JUDICATURE 246, 253 (1978);
204. Sylvia R. Lazos Vargas, Only Skin Deep?: The Cost of Partisan Politics on Minority Diversity of the Federal Bench, 83 IND. L. J. 1423, 1442 (2008).
205. See generally Sherrilyn A. Ifill, Racial Diversity on the Bench: Beyond Role Models and Public Confidence, 57 WASH. & LEE L. REV. 405 (2000).
206. Carl Tobias, Dear President Bush: Leaving a Legacy on the Federal Bench, 42 U. RICH. L. REV. 1041, 1048 (2008);
207. see George, supra note 69, at 18-25. For appointment of LGBT judges, see Michael Nava, The Servant of Alt Humility, Humanity, and Judicial Diversity, 38 GOLDEN GATE U. L. REV. 175, 192 (2008);
208. Carl Tobias, Considering Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Bisexual Nominees for the Federal Courts, 90 WASH. U. L. REV. 577 (2012);
209. Linda Greenhouse, Recuse Me, N. Y. TIMES (May 4, 2011, 9:39 PM), http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes. com/2011/05/04/recuse-me/; supra note 64.
210. The Tenth Circuit also had two unforeseen 2010 vacancies; both judges resumed academic careers. Brooke Adams, Inaction on Judges Affecting Utah, SALT LAKE TRIB. (July 21, 2012, 1:01 AM), http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54522568- 78/court-judicial-federal-senate.html.csp;
211. Robert Boczkiewicz, Resignation Turns to Politics, TULSA WORLD (Dec. 12, 2009, 5:40 AM), http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/printerfriendlystory.aspx? articleid=20091212-14-al-denver882223;
212. Vacancies in the Federal Judiciary, supra note 5 (for 2010);
213. Carl Tobias, Filling the Three Openings on the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, FINDLAW (Sept. 23, 2009), http://writ.news.findlaw.com/ commentary/20090923-tobias.html;
214. Carol J. Williams, Robert R Beezer Dies; Judge on 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, L. A. TIMES (Apr. 3, 2012), http://arti cles.latimes.com/2012/apr/03/ local/la-me-robert-beezer-20120403. Obama appointed no D. C. Circuit judges his first term.
215. See Charlie Savage, Obama Nominates Two for Federal Appeals Court, N. Y. TIMES (June 11, 2012), www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/us/politics/obama-nominates- halligan-and-srinivasan-to-dc-appeals-court.html; infra note 140.
216. Carl Tobias, Filling the Fourth Circuit Vacancies, 89 N. C. L. REV. 2161, 2174 (2011);
217. Barbara Barrett, Hagan Drove Court Nominations, RALEIGH NEWS & OBSERVER, Nov. 23, 2009, at B1;
218. Jim Morrill, Diaz Confirmed to 4th Circuit, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, Dec. 19, 2010, at B1;
219. see also Obama Letter, supra note 39 (regarding those circuits); supra text accompanying notes 41-42 (same); infra notes 125, 134 (regarding same).
220. His views on molding the bench are unclear. Dahlia Lithwick, What Does He See in Her?, SATE (May 13, 2010, 6:11 PM), http://www.slate.com/articles/news- and-politics/jurisprudence/2010/05/what-does-he-see-in-her.html; supra note 72;
221. Press Release, White House, Office of the Press Sec'y, President Obama Nominates Justice Barbara Milano Keenan for United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Sept. 14, 2009), available at http://infoweb.newsbank.com/ iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p-action=doc& p-topdoc=l&p-docnum=l&p-sort= YMD-date:D&p-product=NewsBank&p-text-direct-0=document-id= %28%201343E4FFBA943358%20%29&p-docid=1343E4FFBA943358&p-theme= aggdocs&p-queryname=1343E4FFBA943358&f-openurl=yes&p-nbid= N50K480EMTM2MzAlNTcwNi40ODIxMzM6MToxMToxNDEuMTY2LjAuMA&&p-multi=CHOB;
222. Tom Jackman, Va. Judge Nominated for Appeals Court, WASH. POST (Sept. 15, 2009), http://articles. washing tonpost.com/2009-09-15/news/36807438-l- courtjudge-appeals-court-circuit-bench; supra note 42.
223. See Dan Friedman, Nomination Battle Affects Unopposed Judges, NAT'LJ., Oct. 28, 2009, http://www.nationaljoumal.com/member/daily/nomination-batde- begins-affecting-un opposed-judges-20091028?mrefid=site-search;
224. ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE, JUSTICE CAN'T WAIT 2 (Oct. 2009), available at http://www.afj.org/judicial-selection/alliance-forjustice-reportjustice-can-t- wait-the-first-ten-months-of-the-obama-administration.pdf;
225. Sophie Quinton, Fingerpointing on Judges, NAT'LJ., June 21, 2012, available at http://www.nationaljournal.com/member/whitehouse/classic- fmgerpointing-from-white-housesenate-onjudicial-nominations-20120620?mrefid= site-search; Savage, supra note 27. The GOP agreed to floor votes in September 2009 and few time accords. See supra notes 43-45 and accompanying text.
226. Until recendy, holds were extraordinarily rare. Aron, supra note 54; supra note 47 and accompanying text; see Letter from Sen. Claire McCaskill to Sen. Harry Reid and Sen. Mitch McConnell (Apr. 22, 2010);
227. See supra notes 43-48, 53, 56, 66, and accompanying text; see also SENATE RULE 22 (2012);
228. 158 CONG. REC. S8376 (daily ed. Dec. 21, 2012) (statement of Sen. Patrick Leahy);
229. Carl Tobias, A Fourth Circuit Photograph, 45 WAKE FOREST L. REV. 1373 (2010);
230. Andrew Cohen, In Pennsylvania, the Human Costs of Judicial Confirmation Delays, ATLANTIC (Sept. 10, 2012 3:38 P. M.), http://www.theatlantic.com/ politics/archive/2012/09/in-pennsylvania-the-human-costs-of-judicial- confirmation-delays/261862/;
231. Todd Ruger, Nominees Are Living on Hold: Caught in a Political Game, Judicial Candidates Get Used to Waiting, NAT'L L. J., Dec. 17, 2012, available at www.dailyreportonline.com/Pub/ArticleDRO.jsp?id=1355684605200&siretom= 20130231201307.
232. 156 CONG. REC. S904, supra note 43 (regarding the fewer jurists). For times
233. see 158 CONG. REC. S5005 (daily ed. July 16, 2012) (statement of Sen. Charles Grassley);
234. Ari Berman, Why the Supreme Court Matters, NATION (Apr. 11, 2012), http://www.thenation. com/artide/167350/why-supreme-court-matters;
235. Doug Kendall, The 200-Day Club, SLATE (Sept. 27, 2012, 4:11 PM), http://www.slate.com/articles/news-and-politics/jurispru dence/2012/09/judicial- confirmation-process-it-takes-more-than-200-days-to-join-the-federal-bench-. html;
236. Richard Wolf, Obama Determined to Fill Federal Judgeships, USA TODAY (Nov. 29, 2012, 5:19 PM), http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/11/ 28/obama-republicans-judges-senate/1715357/.
237. But see 158 CONG. REC. S6495 (daily ed. Sept 20, 2012) (statement of Sen. Mitch McConnell).
238. 2010 circuit activity was greater. 156 CONG. REC. S6991 (2010);
239. Linda Greenhouse, Senate, 96-3, Easily Affirms Judge Ginsburg as a Justice, N. Y. TIMES (Aug. 4, 1993), http://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/04/us/ senate-96-3-easily-affirmsjudgeginsburg-as-a-justice.html;
240. see also ORRIN HATCH, SQUARE PEG CONFESSIONS OF A CITIZEN SENATOR 179 (2003);
241. Peter Baker, Obama's Team is Lacking Most of Its Top Players, N. Y. TIMES (Aug. 24, 2009), http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/24/us/politics/24confirm.html;
242. see Wil S. Hylton, Hope. Change. Reality., GENTLEMEN'S Q. (Dec. 2010), http://www.gq.com/news-politics/politics/201012/eric-holder-attomey-general- rahm-emanuel-white-house-elections;
243. Al Kamen, The Judicial Wailing Game, WASH. POST (Aug. 4, 2010);
244. Ed O'Keefe, Obama Criticizes Holds Placed on his Nominees, WASH. POST (Feb. 4, 2010), http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2010-02-04/politics/36788060- 1-confirmation-votes-martha-n-johnson-president-obama;
245. Seth Stem, Bench-Clearing Brawl, C. Q. WEEKLY, Sept 27, 2010, at 2212.
246. See Peter Baker, Could Afghanistan Become Obama's Vietnam?, N. Y. TIMES (Aug. 22, 2009), http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/weekinreview/23baker.html;
247. Thomas L. Friedman, Op-Ed, Finishing Our Work, N. Y. TIMES (Nov. 4, 2008), http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/opinion/05friedman.html;
248. Anne E. Komblut, Obama Declares That Combat In Iraq is Over, WASH. POST (Sept 1, 2010), http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/31/ /AR2010083104496.html;
249. Mark Landler, Obama Signs Pact in Kabul, Turning Page in Afghan War, N. Y. TIMES (May 1, 2012), http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/02/world/asia/obama- lands-in-kabul-on-unannounced-visit.html.
250. For helpful assessment of a "career judiciary", see supra note 62. See generally Russell Wheeler, Changing Backgrounds of U. S. District Judges: Likely Causes and Possible Implications, 93 JUDICATURE 140 (2010);
251. Ashby Jones, Scalia in Mississippi: Stop With the Judges, Already!, WALL ST. J. (Jan. 5, 2010, 1:37 P. M.), http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2010/01/05/scalia- in-mississippi-stop-with-thejudges-already;
252. The Reliable Source, A Truly Exclusive Washington Party: Antonin Scalia Hosts Justices to Toast New Henry Friendly Bio, WASH. POST (May 1, 2012), http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/post/a-truly-exclusive- washingtonparty-antonin-scalia-hostsjustices-to-toast-new-henry-friendly-bio/ 2012/04/30/gIQAR2vY sT-blog.html.
253. Posner, supra note 34, at 139-59; see also JONATHAN MATTHEW COHEN, INSIDE APPELLATE COURTS 1-19 (2002);
254. Owen M. Fiss, The Bureaucratization of the Judiciary, 92 YALE L. J. 1442 (1983);
255. Alvin B. Rubin, Bureaucratization of the Federal Courts: The Tension Between Justice and Efficiency, 55 NOTRE DAME L. REV. 648 (1980);
256. Katherine A. Helm and Joel Cohen, Don't Exclude Academics from the Federal Judiciary, LAW. COM (Sept. 6, 2011), http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp? id=1202513472093&Dont-Exclude-Academics-From-the-Federal-Judiciary &slretum=2013113211939. Many Obama appointees do not increase the circuit bench's experiential diversity.
257. Berman, supra note 90; see George, supra note 69, at 16, 21; Pamela S. Karlan, Empty Benches, BOSTON REV. (Sept./Oct. 2012), http://www.bostonreview. net/BR37.5/pamela-s-karlan-federal-courts-vacancies-obama.php;
258. Mark Walsh, Youth Will Out: No Matter Who Wins, SCOTUS Nominees Will Get Younger, A. B. A. J., Aug. 2012, at 19;
259. Jamelle Bouie, How Obama Has Jeopardized the Future of Liberalism, WASH. POST. (Oct. 9, 2012, 3:28 PM), http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/ post/how-obama-has-jeopardized-the-futureof-liberalism/2012/10/09/ bec545de-1225-l le2-9a39-lf5a7f6fe945-blog.html.
260. For balance, see Fontana, supra note 48; Ifill, supra note 61; supra text accompanying notes 52-54, 71-73, 83. For GOP appointees, see Tobias, supra note 76, at 1045; Charlie Savage, Appeals Court Pushed to Right by Bush Choices, N. Y. TIMES (Oct. 28, 2008), http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/us/29judges.html; supra text accompanying note 73. A few say ethnic and gender diversity's emphasis erodes merit and other diversity, ideas the "Wise Latina" issue shows.
261. Hon. Sonia Sotomayor, A Latina Judge's Voice, 13 BERKELEY LA RAZA L. J. 87 (2002).
262. See generally SONIA SOTOMAYER, MY BELOVED COUNTRY (2013);
263. The best remedy may be enough new positions to seat all judges now authorized. Tobias, supra note 1, at 569. Others only limit irreducible time restraints. For many ideas, see Mann & Ornstein, supra note 47; Goldman et al., supra note 27; Tuan Samahon, The Judicial Vesting Option: Opting Out of Nomination and Advice and Consent, 67 OHIO ST. L. J. 783 (2006);
264. For example, Democrats clarified they would assume the lead when Texas senators kept the Bush panel. See supra note 33; see also H. Thomas Wells Jr., No Time for Tension, No Room for Rancor, A. BA. J., Nov. 2008, at 94.
265. California kept them; Wisconsin's vets applicants from whom senators pick. See supra note 31; Senate Judiciary Comm., Exec. Business Mtg., Feb. 4, 2010 (statements of Sens. Russ Feingold and Dianne Feinstein);
266. Editorial, Step Aside, Senator, MILWAUKEE J. SENTINEL (July 19, 2011), http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/125847338.html. A panel like President Jimmy Carter's may warrant evaluation.
267. See LARRY BERKSON & SUSAN CARBON, THE UNITED STATES CIRCUIT JUDGE NOMINATING COMMISSION (1980).
268. If the ideas above fail, Obama and senators must redouble efforts to end logjams. Mark Hansen, Logjam, A. B. A. J., June 2008, at 38;
269. Jonathan Bernstein, Mitch McConnell's Choice: Justice Delayed, and Delayed, and Delayed, WASH. POST (June 14, 2012, 1:09 P. M.), http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/mitch-mcconnells-choice- justicedelayed-and-delayed-and-delayed/2012/06/14/gJQAVEMjcV-blog.html;
270. Paul Kane, Reid Calls for Ending "Gridlock" But Pledges Senate Rules Changes if GOP Tries to Obstruct Obama's Term, WASH. POST (Nov. 7, 2012), http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-ll-07/politics/35503993-l-reid- filibuster-rules-boehner. More drastic ideas, namely "trades", may merit use. Infra note 126.
271. U. S. JUDICIAL CONF., REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE JUDICIAL CONF. OF THE U. S. 20 (Mar. 15, 2011);
272. see S.1653, 112th Cong. (2011);
273. S.1014, 112th Cong. (2011);
274. The Federal Judgeships Act of 2009: Hearing on S. 1653 Before the S. Comm, on the Judiciary, 111th Cong. (2009);
275. CONG. REC. S904, supra note 43;
276. Carl Tobias, Congress and the Pending Comprehensive Judgeships Legislation, FINDLAW (Sept. 30, 2009), http://writ.news.findlaw.com/commentary/ 20090930-tobias.html..
277. Tobias, supra note 9, at 748; GORDON BERMANT ET AL., FED. JUDICIAL CTR., IMPOSING A MORATORIUM ON THE NUMBER OF FEDERAL JUDGES: ANALYSIS OF ARGUMENTS AND IMPLICATIONS (1993);
278. see also Tobias, supra note 76, at 1045, 1052 (appeals and workloads). But see Robert Iafolla, GOP Victory Scrambles the Judiciary Agenda, L. A. DAILY J., Jan. 21, 2010; infra note 149.
279. GOP votes reflect these ideas. Todd Ruger, The Senate's Stranglehold, NAT'L L. J., (Oct. 1, 2012), http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id= 1202573089819&The-Senates-stranglehold;
280. David Stout, Sotomayor Gets 9 G. O. P. Votes, N. Y. TIMES (Aug. 6, 2009, 12:56 PM), http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/sotomayor-gets-9-gop- votes (updated Aug. 6, 2009, 1:44 PM);
281. Jeffrey Toobin, After Stevens: What Will the Supreme Court Be Like Without Its Liberal Leader?, NEW YORKER (Mar. 22, 2010), http://www.newyorker. com/reporting/2010/03/22/100322fa-fact-toobin;
282. see Fontana, supra note 48; Lisa Mascaro, Jacqueline H. Nguyen of L. A Confirmed to U. S. 9th Circuit Court, LA. TIMES (May 7, 2012), http://articles.latimes. com/2012/may/07/nation/la-na-nguyen-20120508 (elevating Obama's nominee);
283. Jeffrey Rosen, Op-Ed., Barack Obama Supreme Court Justice, WASH. POST (Feb. 21, 2010), articles.washingtonpost.com/2010-02-21/opinions/36783133-l- president-obama-barackobama-supreme-court (discussing the qualities of President Obama and their relation to the Supreme Court); supra notes 37, 61-64, 68, 92, and accompanying text.
284. Kendall, supra note 58; supra notes 30-33 and accompanying text; see 156 CONG. REC. S904, supra note 43;
285. Letter from Prof. Bruce Ackerman et al., supra note 34. In 2009, Obama tapped slowly.
286. Todd Ruger, Judicial Restraint, NAT'L L. J. (May 14, 2012), http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202553268915&Judicial- restraint.
287. The pace did quicken, as Steve Sue shows. Press Release, White House, Office of Press Sec'y, President Obama Nominates Steve Six to United States Circuit Court (Mar. 9, 2011), available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press- office/2011/03/09/president-obama-nominates-steve-sixunited-states-circuit- court; Ruger, supra note 113;
288. see Jonathan Bernstein, Op-Ed., Fill Those Judicial Vacancies!, WASH. POST (May 21, 2012, 3:19 PM), http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/ post/fill-those-judicial-vacancies/2012/05/21/gIQAZcJwfU-blog.html.
289. See supra notes 27-29 and accompanying text; supra notes 40-41; infra notes 136-42. But see supra text accompanying notes 42-56 (discussing appointments made). For recess appointments, see Noel Canning v. NLRB, 705 F. 3d 490 (D. C. Cir. 2013);
290. Lawfulness of Recess Appointments During a Recess of the Senate Notwithstanding Periodic Pro Forma Sessions, 36 OP. O. L. C. 1 (2012);
291. Charlie Savage, Obama Tempts Fight Over Recess Appointments, N. Y. TIMES (Jan. 4, 2012, 5:41 PM), http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/obama- tempts-fight-over-recess-appointments/;
292. Jonathan Weisman, Republican Vow of Revenge Falls Short, N. Y. TIMES (Feb. 9, 2012, 3:29 PM), http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes. com/2012/02/09/senate- g-o-p-vowed-to-oppose-all-obama-choices-but-nominee-gets-bipartisan- confirmation;
293. George F. Will, Op. Ed., Obama's Selective Defense of the Constitution, WASH. POST (Oct. 10, 2012), http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-10-10/ opinions/35498394-l-recess-appointments-presidential-appointments-vacancies; infra note 128.
294. He may review and refine his ideas and assess effective prior ones. Carter used panels, and Presidents George H. W. Bush and Clinton asked senators to suggest many strong women. See Carl Tobias, More Women Named Federal Judges, 43 FLA. L. REV. 477, 479-80 (1991) (discussing President Bush's efforts to suggest more strong women);
295. Neil A. Lewis, Unmaking the G. O. P. Court Legacy, N. Y. TIMES (Aug. 23, 1993), http://www.nytimes. com/1993/08/23/us/unmaking-the-gop-court-legacy.html (discussing President Clinton's efforts to suggest more strong women); supra note 105 (discussing President Carter's use of panels to suggest more strong women); see also supra paragraph after text accompanying note 109.
296. Carl Hulse, G. O. P. Blocks Judicial Nominee in a Sign of Battles to Come, N. Y. TIMES (May 19, 2011), http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/us/politics/ 20congress.html;
297. Neil A. Lewis, Bush Judicial Choice Imperiled by Refusal to Release Papers, N. Y. TIMES (Sept. 27, 2002), http://www.nytimes.eom/2002/09/27/us/bush- judicial-choice-imperiled-by-refusal-torelease-papers.html?ref=neilalewis; see Gerhardt, supra note 11, at 217-29;
298. NANCY SCHERER, SCORING POINTS: POLITICIANS, ACTIVISTS, AND THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS 4-10 (2005).
299. 158 CONG. REC. S5642 (daily ed. July 30, 2012) (statement of Sen. Patrick Leahy);
300. RUSSELL WHEELER, JUDICIAL CONFIRMATIONS: WHAT THURMOND RULE?, BROOKINGS INST. (2012), available at http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2012/03/ judicialwheeler;
301. Letter from Sen. Mitch McConnell to Bill Robinson, ABA President, (June 25, 2012);
302. Carl Tobias, Senate Should Not Invoke "Thurmond Rule" to Block Kayatta Nomination, THE HILL (Aug. 14, 2012), thttp://thehill.com/blogs/ congress-blog/judicial/243511-senate-should-not-invoke-thurmond-rule-to-block- kayatta-nomination; infra note 135;
303. see also Carl Tobias, Filling the Judicial Vacancies in a Presidential Election Year, 46 U. RICH. L. REV. 985 (2012).
304. David G. Savage, Senate Judicial Confirmations Skip 2 California Nominees, LA TIMES (Dec. 20, 2010), http://artides.latimes.eom/2010/dec/20/ nation/lana-senate-judges-20101221;
305. Micah Schwartzman, Not Getting Any Younger, SLATE (May 26, 2011), http://www.slate.com/articles/news-and-politics/jurisprudence/2011/05/ not-getting-any-younger.html;
306. Carol J. Williams, 9th Circuit Candidate's Career Marked by Rapid Ascent, Ranging Roles, LA TIMES (Mar. 9, 2010), http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/ 09/local/la-me-goodwin-liu9-2010mar09; see Wheeler, supra note 95; supra notes 61-62, 64, 96-98, and accompanying text
307. Bill Theobald, Nashville Attorney's Appointment to U. S. Appeals Court is Confirmed, THE TENNESSEAN (Sept. 14, 2010), http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/ tennessean/access/21373616 21.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type= cunfent&date=Sep+14%2C+2010&author=Bill& pub= The+Tennessean&edition=&startpage=n%2Fa&desc= Nashville+attomey%27s+ap pointment+to+U. S.+appeals+court+is+confirmed; supra note 57; infra note 132 and accompanying text; see supra text accompanying note 113; infra notes 133-35.
308. 157 CONG. REC. S6027 (daily ed. Oct. 3, 2011);
309. James Rosen, Obama Nominates S. C. Federal Judge to Appellate Court, MCCLATCHY WASH. BUREAU (Jan. 27, 2011, 11:06 AM) www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/01/27/ v-print/107597/obama-nominates-sc-federaljudge, html.; infra note 134. Quintessential is Sotomayor whom George H. W. Bush first chose.
310. Neil A Lewis, After Delay, Senate Approves Judge for Court In New York, N. Y. TIMES (Oct. 3, 1998), http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/03/nyregion/after- delay-senate-approvesjudge-forcourt-in-new-york.html?ref=neilalewis; see Tobias, supra note 9, at 770-71.
311. See infra text accompanying notes 133-35. For lengthy vacancies, see Tobias, supra note 81. For courts with long openings and many cases in states where officials differ, compromises or "trades" may work, as Georgia suggests. Bill Rankin, Vote Sets Stage for Changes on the Bench, ATLANTA J. CONST., Oct. 21, 2012, at 1A. Trades spark controversy.
312. CONG. REC. S2541 (daily ed. Mar. 19, 1997) (statement of Sen. Joe Biden); see Gerhardt, supra note 11, at 157-63.
313. 158 CONG. REC. S1065 (daily ed. Feb. 28, 2012);
314. Press Release, White House, Office of the Press Sec'y, President Obama Renominates Thirty-Three to Federal Judgeships, (Jan. 3, 2013) available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/01/03/presidentobama-re- nominates-thirty-three-federaljudgeships;
315. CONG. REC. S8376, supra note 89;
316. Jonathan Bernstein, Op-Ed., Will Obama Push forJudicial Confirmations this Fall ? WASH. POST (Aug. 31, 2011), http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ plum-line/post/will-obama-pushfor-judicial-confirmauons-this-fall/2011/08/31/gl QARwd5rJ-blog.html;
317. Linda Greenhouse, Op-Ed., Rock Bottom, N. Y. TIMES (Dec. 14, 2011), http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes. com/2011/12/14/rock-bottom/. The GOP has mastered these ideas. Stras & Scott, supra note 7, at 1902-06; Tobias, supra note 9, at 772; Ruger, supra note 113.
318. Unless the situation substantially worsens, Obama should not recess appoint judges, as many legal and political concerns explain its rare use. U. S. CONST, art. II, § 2, cl. 3;
319. see Evans v. Stephens, 387 F.3d 1220 (11th Cir. 2004);
320. United States v. Woodley, 751 F.2d 1008 (9th Cir. 1985);
321. William Ty Mayton, Recess Appointments and an Independent Judiciary, 20 CONST. COMMENT. 515 (2004);
322. See supra notes 22, 24-26; see also Jack Newfield, The Right's Judicial Juggernaut, THE NATION (Oct. 7, 2002), http://www.thenation. eom/article/rightsjudicialjuggemaut#.
323. But see 158 CONG. REC. S5647-49 (statements of Sens. Chuck Grassley & Mitch McConnell) (daily ed. July 30, 2012).
324. Exec. Order No. 13, 300, 68 Fed. Reg. 25, 807 (May 9, 2003);
325. S. Res. 327, 108th Cong. (2004) (enacted); Bermant et al., supra note 1;
326. Mike Allen & Amy Goldstein, Bush Has Plan to Speed Judicial Confirmations, WASH. POST, Oct. 31, 2002, at A21; Fontana, supra note 33;
327. Paul Kane, State of the Union Proposals: What Might Pass?, WASH. POST (Jan. 25, 2012), http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/state-of-theunion- proposals-what-might-pass/2012/01/25/gIQAQhsVRQ-story.html; see supra notes 46, 57, 124-26; infra note 142 and accompanying text.
328. Hearing Before the Senate Judiciary Comm, on Mary Murguia to be a U. S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, 111th Cong. (2010);
329. CONG. REC. SI0, 986 (daily ed. Dec. 22, 2010);
330. see 158 CONG. REC. S3947 (daily ed. June 12, 2012) (showing Arizona senators' similar treatment of Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Hurwitz).
331. Senate Judiciary Comm., Exec. Business Mtg., June 10, 2010; see Thomas Burr, Scott Matheson Jr. OK'd for Appeals Court Position, SALT LAKE TRIB. (Dec. 25, 2010), http://archive. sltrib.com/article.php?id=12707607&itype=storyID;
332. Thomas Burr, Scott Matheson Named to 10th Circuit Appellate Court, SALT LAKE TRIB. (Mar. 3, 2010), http://www.sltrib.com/ci-14506179;
333. Letter from Judge Michael McConnell, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, to President Barack Obama (May 5, 2009).
334. 158 CONG. REC. S5642 (daily ed. July 30, 2012);
335. Chris Casteel, Republican Opposition in Senate Kills Move to Confirm Oklahoman to Appeals Court Post, OKLAHOMAN (July 31, 2012), http://newsok.com/ republican-opposition-in-senate-kills-move-to-confirm-oklahoman-toappeals-court- post/article/3696782;
336. Jim Myers, Court Vacancy Causes Stir, TULSA WORLD (May 23, 2010), http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/printerfriendlystory.aspx?articleid=2010 0523-16-al-washin822076;
337. Carl Tobias, The Senate's "Dr. No" Delivers a Surprise "Yes", LA. TIMES (Mar. 14, 2012), http://articles.latimes.com/2012/ mar/14/opinion/la-oe-tobiasjudges-20120314;
338. Editorial, A Poor Excuse to Block Judges, N. Y. TIMES (July 29, 2012), http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/opinion/a-poor-excuse-to-block-judges.html;
339. Editorial, Bacharach Confirmation to 10th Circuit Needs (Finally) to be Completed, OKLAHOMAN (Jan. 6, 2013), http://newsok.com/bacharach-confirmation- to-10th-circuit-needs-finally-to-be-completed/article/3743147; sources cited supra note 79.
340. Goodwin Du Hearing, supra note 40; Lee Ross, Second Senate Hearing for Professor Liu, FOXNEWS. COM (Mar. 2, 2011), http://politics.blogs.foxnews.eom/ 2011/03/02/senateholds-second-hearing-controversialjudicial-pick-goodwin-liu; supra notes 40, 123; infra text accompanying note 140;
341. see Editorial, The Values of Professor Liu, WASH. POST (Mar. 6, 2011), http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/06/AR2011030603169. html.
342. Senate Judiciary Comm., Exec. Business Mtg., Feb. 3, 2011. In 2012, most GOP members voted no on two district choices for no reason and a circuit pick for unpersuasive ones. See id, Mar. 8, 2012. In 2011, Grassley replaced Sessions as Ranking Member. Dean Friedman, Grassley Hits Stride on Panel, NAT'L J., June 20, 2012.
343. Helen Dewar, Republicans Push Speedy Action on Court Picks; Partisan Acrimony Marks Senate Panel's Hearing on Judiciary Nominations, WASH. POST, Jan. 30, 2003;
344. Neil A. Lewis, Senate Panel Backs Appeals Court Nominee, N. Y. TIMES (Jan. 30, 2003), http://www.nytimes. com/2003/01/30/politics/30CND-JUDG.html;
345. see Michael L. Shenkman, Decoupling District from Circuit Judge Nominations: A Proposal to Put Trial Bench Confirmations on Track, 65 ARK. L. REV. 217, 305 (2012);
346. See generally Michael J. Gerhardt, Merit vs. Ideology, 26 CARDOZO L. REV. 353 (2005);
347. Debates are useful exchanges. 143 CONG. REC. S2515 (daily ed. Mar. 19, 1997);
348. CONG. REC. S7651 (daily ed. July 31, 2002);
349. CONG. REC. S3144 (daily ed. May 19, 2011);
350. see Maura Dolan, Goodwin Liu Blended in Easily on California's Supreme Court, LA. TIMES (Oct. 22, 2012), http://artides.ladmes.com/2012/oct/22/local/ la-mejustice-liu-20121023. If the GOP employs more filibusters, a group, like the "Gang of 14", may limit filibuster use.
351. Text of Senate Compromise on Nominations of Judges, N. Y. TIMES (May 24, 2005), http://wvw.nytimes.com/2005/05/24/politics/24text.html;
352. Dahlia Lithwick, Extraordinary Hypocrisy, SLATE (May 19, 2011), http://www.slate.com/articles/news-and-politics/jurisprudence/2011/05/ extraordinary-hypocrisy.html; Packer, supra note 43;
353. Jonathan Weisman, The Senate's Long Slide to Gridlock, N. Y. TIMES (Nov. 24, 2012), http://www.nytimes.com/2012/ll/25/us/politics/new-senates-first-task- will-likely-be-trying-to-fix-itself.html?pagewanted=all;
354. see 158 CONG. REC. S5094 (daily ed. July 18, 2012).
355. Leahy urged Chief Justice John Roberts to follow Rehnquist. JOHN ROBERTS, YEAR-END REPORT ON THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY 7-8 (2010);
356. CONG. REC. S904, supra note 43; supra text accompanying notes 26, 116, 131.
357. 157 CONG. REC. S296 (daily ed. Jan. 27, 2011);
358. Gerard N. Magliocca, Reforming the Filibuster, 105 NW. U. L. REV. 303 (2011);
359. Editorial, Not Too Late to Curb the Filibuster, N. Y. TIMES (May 14, 2012), http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/opinion/not-too-late-tocurb-the- filibuster.html.
360. For many similar concepts, see 158 CONG. REC. S8647 (daily ed. Jan. 2, 2013);
361. Russell Wheeler, Op-Ed., The Case for Confirming District Court Judges, POLITICO (Sept. 18, 2012, 9:39 PM), http://www.politico. com/news/stories/0912/ 81354.html; supra text accompanying notes 17-18, 59, 127-28, 131.
362. Judicial Nominations 2001: Should Ideology Mattert Hearings before the Senate Judiciary Subcomm. on Admin. Oversight and the Courts, 107th Cong. (2001);
363. Judicial Activism: Assessing the Impact, Hearings Before the Senate Judiciary Constitution Subcomm., 105th Cong. (1997) (testimony of Bill Pryor, Alabama Attorney General);
364. see EVAN TSEN LEE, JUDICIAL RESTRAINT IN AMERICA (2011);
365. KERMIT ROOSEVELT III, THE MYTH OFJUDIOAL ACTIVISM (2006);
366. Stefanie A. Lindquist & Frank B. Cross, Judging the Judges, 58 DUKE L. J. 1383 (2009);
367. Geoffrey Stone, When is Judicial Activism Appropriate?, CHI. TRIB. (Apr. 13, 2012), http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-13/news/ct-perspec-0413- restraint-20120413-l-judicialactivism-judicial-deference-judicial-restraint.
368. E.g., 2001 Hearings, supra note 143;
369. Douglas Laycock, Op-Ed., Forging Ideological Compromises, N. Y. TIMES, Sept. 18, 2002, at A31;
370. see Stephen L. Carter, A Devilish Look at the Confirmation Process (With Apologies to C. S. Lewis), 50 DRAKE L. REV. 369 (2002);
371. Ed Gillespie, Judging Obama's Nominee, WASH. POST (May 20, 2009), http://articles, washingtonpost.com/2009-05-20/opinions/36917221-l-nominee- senate-judiciajycommittee-roberts-and-alito.
372. See TASK FORCES OF CITIZENS FOR INDEPENDENT COURTS 1-75, 121-71, 205-42 (2000);
373. Symposium on Judicial Independence and Accountability, 72 S. CAL. L. REV. 315, 315-809 (1999);
374. see also Senate Judiciary Comm., Exec. Business Mtg., June 4, 2009 (statement of Sen. Ben Cardin); id., Apr. 7, 2011 (statement of Sen. Dianne Feinstein);
375. see generally Andrew Cohen, False Equivalence Watch, Judiciary Edition, ACTLANTIC. COM (Apr. 9, 2012), http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/ 04/false-equivalence-watch-judiciaryedition/255527/.
376. Senate Judiciary Comm., Exec. Business Mtgs., Jan. 28 & Feb. 4, 2010 (statements of Sens. Russ Feingold & Dianne Feinstein);
377. Exec. Business Mtg., June 10, 2010, supra note 133;
378. see Dana Milbank, Lindsey Graham Stands Apart From Other Republican Senators on Kagan Vote, WASH. POST (July, 21, 2010), http://www.washingtonpost. com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/20/AR2010072005445.html;
379. Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Senate Panel Backs Kagan Nomination, With One Republican Vote, N. Y. TIMES (July 20, 2010), http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/21/ us/21kagan.html;
380. Editorial, Confirm Elena Kagan, WASH. POST (July 4, 2010), http://www.washingtonpost.eom/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/03/AR20100703026 94.html.
381. See Letter from Prof. Bruce Ackerman et al., supra note 34;
382. Jason DeParle, Nomination for Supreme Court Stirs Debate on Influence of Federalist Society, N. Y. TIMES (Aug. 1, 2005), http://query.nytimes.com/gst/ fullpage.html?res=FBOF10FC355BOC728CDDA10894DD40 4482;
383. see also Nancy Scherer, The Federalist Society's Influence on the Federal Bench, 62 POL. RES. Q. 366 (2009);
384. Ron D. DeSantis, Obama's Kindred Judicial Spirit, HUMANEVENTS. COM (Mar. 10, 2011), http://www.humanevents.com/2011/03/10/obamas-kindred-judicial-spirit/ .
385. The confirmation process worsened over Obama's term and the dynamics infected the district process for the first time, but the appellate level problems seemed more intractable, although the suggestions here similarly apply to both. Karlan, supra note 97; Packer, supra note 43; see Mann & Ornstein, supra note 47; Shenkman, supra note 138; RUSSELL WHEELER, JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS AND CONFIRMATIONS IN OBAMA'S FIRST TERM, (Brookings Inst. (2012), available at http://www.brookings.edu/-/media/Research/Files/Papers/2012/12/ 13%20judicial%20nominations%20wheeler/13-obama-judicial-wheeler.pdf;
386. David Leonhardt, The Endless Battle Over Judicial Nominees, N. Y. TIMES, June 23, 2013 at SR4. However, Obama's re-election and Democrats' Senate retention may alter the dynamics.
387. JOHN ROBERTS, YEAR-END REPORT ON THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY 9-10 (2012);
388. Manu Raju, The New Senate: More Compromise, Less Filibuster, POLITICO (Nov. 7, 2012), http://www.politico. com/news/stories/1112/83458.html;
389. see Jeffrey Toobin, Obama's Unfinished Judicial Legacy, NEW YORKER (July 31, 2012), http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2012/07/why-judges- matter.html; supra text accompanying notes 121-23, 127-28.