Note! Senate leaders can discharge a committee from consideration of nominee

[Tx4obama]

32. Here is another HUGE possible problem: 'blue slips'

IF both senators from a state do not turn in their 'blue slips' then the nominee will not get a 'hearing'.

And without a hearing a really doubt that the nominee would be brought to the floor.

Or is the blue slip phase after the hearing and before the committee vote?

I think it is 'before' they get a hearing.

Anyone know for sure?


Edited to add...

Article on link below regarding 'blue slips'

Senator Leahy and the Blue Slips

Here: http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/03/senator-leahy-and-blue-slips

AND also...

-snip-
The rules change will not lead to an immediate flood of judges, however, as Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, observes what's known as the "blue slip rule," a tradition in the committee that allows senators to advance or block judicial nominees from their home state. Republicans are currently refusing to submit blue slips for four nominees pending in the committee, effectively stalling their entire confirmation process. And they could use that same rule to block others in committee.

The rules change has repercussions for what's known as the "hold," where a senator threatens to filibuster unless some related or unrelated demand is met. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), for instance, was holding Yellen's nomination while demanding an audit of the Federal Reserve.

With filibusters on nominees now easier to overcome, a hold has less power, though it can still slow down the process.

-snip-

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/21/senate-filibuster_n_4319665.html