This Seems Like a Good Idea.

Especially with Magistrate Judge Rosenbaum testifying live right now before the Senate Judiciary Committee:

On March 14 and 15, call your senators toll free at 1-866-338-5720*and urge them to give President Obama’s judicial nominees an up-or-down vote. Senate Republicans, in their unprecedented obstruction, are filibustering 17 of President Obama’s district court nominees to the federal bench. A few facts to highlight:

• At this point in the Bush administration, the average district court nominee waited 22 days for confirmation. The average wait time for President Obama’s district court nominees is 93 days.
• At this point in the Bush administration, the Senate had confirmed 140 district court nominees. Only 105 of President Obama’s district court nominees have been confirmed.
• On average, each of the 17 filibustered nominees has been waiting more than 210 days since nomination. The vast majority of these nominees were approved either unanimously in the Senate Judiciary Committee, or with only Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) opposing.

The judicial vacancy crisis is grinding the federal judiciary to a halt. Half of all Americans – over 160 million of us – live in judicial districts or circuits that have a vacancy that would be filled today if the Republican obstruction of judicial nominations would end. And eight of these 17 filibustered nominees represent districts in which there is a judicial emergency.

There is precedence for the Senate to act. On November 2, 2002, Senate Democrats confirmed 17 of President Bush’s district court nominations – plus a circuit court nomination – all by voice vote.

 Is there really any good reason to oppose this?