Dems gear up for final stretch on judges -- worrying they won't catch Trump
President Joe Biden promised to remake the federal judiciary. With less than a year left to deliver, Democratic senators worry they’re missing their last chance to do that, especially as funding fights increasingly drain their time.
Even if Biden wins reelection, the party has an uphill battle to retain control of the Senate. And it’s especially vital for the party as judges across the country decide key cases that could threaten reproductive rights, walk back environmental regulations and undo labor protections.
Biden crossed a new threshold this last week, notching his 175th confirmed judge and eclipsing former President Barack Obama’s numbers under his first term. It reflects Democrats’ focus on refilling the federal judicial ranks, but they’re scrambling to catch the record set by former President Donald Trump.
And election years only get harder. Typically reliable judicial votes like Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) will be unwilling to make any risky moves, as the two defend their Trump-friendly turf. Plus, any cooperation from Republicans is likely to fade, if not disappear altogether, especially if they feel confident Trump will win the election.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/05/biden-trump-judicial-nomination-record-00139286
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