Nomination and Confirmation of Lower Federal Court Judges in Presidential Election Years

Rutkus, Denis Steven ; Scott, Kevin M.

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Selection of judges;    Advice and consent of the Senate;    Appellate courts;    District courts;    Courts;   

RP-ID  :  RL34615
RP-ID  :  RL34615_2008Aug13

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

This report seeks to shed light on whether Senate processing of lower court nominations, particularly to the courts of appeals, has tended over recent decades to slow down in presidential election years. The report begins by reviewing recent debate, and historical events dating back to 1980, concerning whether the Senate and its Judiciary Committee customarily observe a practice referred to as the "Thurmond rule." Next, the report provides narratives on each presidential election year from 1980 to 2004, reviewing Senate and committee actions taken on court of appeals and district court nominations in each of the years. The report then compares these years quantitatively, examining the number and percent of nominations processed and the last dates of committee and Senate action taken.