Going Nuclear on Judge Janice Rogers Brown
 |
James Joyner | Saturday, February 5, 2005 |
Robert Novak reports,
Senate Republican leaders have decided to begin their use of the “nuclear option” — forcing confirmation of President Bush’s judicial nominations with a majority Senate vote — on an African-American woman blocked by Democrats from a federal judgeship.
Associate Justice Janice Rogers Brown of the California Supreme Court was one of 16 Bush nominees for U.S. appellate courts whose confirmation was prevented by Democratic filibusters in the last Congress. With Republicans still short of the 60 senators needed to limit debate, the nuclear option will seek to confirm judges with a simple majority vote through parliamentary maneuvers.
Republican leaders considered waiting to use drastic tactics against a possible filibuster until Bush made his first Supreme Court nomination. They decided, however, to launch the offensive about a month from now by trying to confirm Brown.
If the Senate is going to change its rules to preclude filibustering judicial nominees–and it should–then it makes sense to do it sooner rather than later. I paid scant attention to the Brown hearings the first time, so have no opinion on her suitability for the appellate bench. But all nominees who make it out of committee deserve an up-or-down vote.
That the GOP has decided to implement the rule change with Brown, a black woman, is likely not a coincidence.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.
Follow James on FriendFeed | Twitter | Digg
- None Found
- Obama Shafts Progressives, Campaign Loyalists
- Not the Great Depression (Updated)
- OTB Caption JamTM
- Sarah Palin in Demand
- Actors Going on Strike
- Jonesing For An Apology
- Geither at Treasury, Richardson at Commerce
- Hillary Clinton to be Secretary of State
- Terrorism Going Away?
- James Jones as National Security Advisor?
- Parableman linked with Nuclear Option: Janice Rogers Brown
That the GOP has decided to implement the rule change with Brown, a black woman, is likely not a coincidence.
It should be a coincidence, in an ideal world. I would hate to think otherwise.
Comments are Closed
