Democrats agree to a cluster of Article III Judicial confirmation votes, in return for being allowed to hit the campaign trail

Politics
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15 confirmations were set up today, 3 Circuit and 12 District. This is probably NOT the full extent of the deal. Voting already underway.

4:45 p.m. The Senate began voting on confirmation of Exec. Cal. #1007 David Porter to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the 3rd Circuit.

4:35 p.m. ML McConnell asked u.c. to proceed to votes on confirmation on the following nominations at 4:45 p.m. (voice votes possible):

  • Cal. #1007 – David James Porter, of Pennsylvania, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit.
  • Cal. #1081 – Ryan Douglas Nelson, of Idaho, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit.
  • Cal. #1082 – Richard J. Sullivan, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit.
  • Cal. #627 – William M. Ray II, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia.
  • Cal. #628 – Liles Clifton Burke, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama.
  • Cal. #629 – Michael Joseph Juneau, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.
  • Cal. #634 – Mark Saalfield Norris, Sr., of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.
  • Cal. #638 – Eli Jeremy Richardson, of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee.
  • Cal. #894 – Thomas S. Kleeh, of West Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia.
  • Cal. #895 – Peter J. Phipps, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
  • Cal. #905 – Susan Brnovich, of Arizona, to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona.
  • Cal. #906 – Chad F. Kenney, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
  • Cal. #907 – Jeremy D. Kernodle, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas.
  • Cal. #945 – James Patrick Hanlon, of Indiana, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana.
  • Cal. #947 – Lance E. Walker, of Maine, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maine.
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Good.

The question is are we running out of conservative/Constitutional judges to promote?

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For the most part, the Circuit Judgeships already have nominees, it is more of a question of locating suitable nominees outside of the judiciary for District Judgeships.

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Here are the results of the votes on the 3 Circuit Judge nominees.

Senate is now voting on the District Judge nominees, though some of those will likely be voice votes.

Cal. #1007, David James Porter, of Pennsylvania, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit. Yeas and Nays ordered. The nomination was confirmed by a vote of 50–45 .

Cal. #1081, Ryan Douglas Nelson, of Idaho, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. Yeas and Nays ordered. The nomination was confirmed by a vote of 51–44 .

Cal. #1082, Richard J. Sullivan, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit. Yeas and Nays ordered. The nomination was confirmed by a vote of 79–16 .

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So the democrats can hit the campaign trail?

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The Democrats agreed to the confirmations, so that the Senate would not be stuck in extended session in October, forcing them to stay in Washington.

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All the District Judge nominees were confirmed.

The quotation is in reverse chronological order.

7:17 p.m. The Senate confirmed by voice vote, Exec. Cal. #947 Lance Walker to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maine.

7:17 p.m. The Senate confirmed by voice vote, Exec. Cal. #945 James Hanlon to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana.

7:16 p.m. The Senate confirmed voice vote, Exec. Cal. #906 Chad Kenney to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

7:16 p.m. The Senate confirmed by voice vote, Exec. Cal. #905 Susan Brnovich to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Arizona.

7:15 p.m. The Senate confirmed by voice vote, Exec. Cal. #895 Peter Phipps to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

7:15 p.m. The Senate confirmed by voice vote, Exec. Cal. #907 Jeremy Kernodle to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas.

7:14 p.m. Thomas Kleeh was confirmed by a vote of 65-30. Senators Feinstein, Heinrich, Heitkamp, Nelson and Rubio did not vote.

7:02 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the nomination of Thomas Kleeh to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia.

7:01 p.m. Eli Richardson was confirmed to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee by a vote of 52-43. Democrats voting aye: Manchin and McCaskill. Senators Feinstein, Heinrich, Heitkamp, Nelson and Rubio did not vote.

6:49 p.m. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of Exec. Cal. #638 Eli Richardson to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee.

6:48 p.m. The Senate confirmed Mark S. Norris, Sr. to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee by a vote of 51-44. Senators Feinstein, Heinrich, Heitkamp, Nelson and Rubio did not vote.

6:34 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the nomination of Mark Norris to be US District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.

6:33 p.m. Michael Joseph Juneau was confirmed by a vote of 54-41. Democrats voting aye: Donnelly, Jones, Manchin and McCaskill. Senators Feinstein, Heinrich, Heitkamp, Nelson and Rubio did not vote.

6:21 p.m. The Senate is now voting on the nomination of Michael Joseph Juneau to be District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

6:20 p.m. Liles Clifton Burke was confirmed by a vote of 55-40. Five Democrats voted aye: Donnelly, Jones, Manchin, McCaskill, and Tester. Senators Feinstein, Heinrich, Heitkamp, Nelson and Rubio did not vote.

6:08 p.m. The Senate began voting on the nomination of Liles Clifton Burke to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama.

6:07 p.m. The Senate confirmed the nomination of William Ray to be a District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia by a vote of 54-41. Senators Donnelly, Jones, Manchin, and Tester voted yes.

5:51 p.m. The Senate began voting on the nomination of William Ray to be District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia.

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Good to have priorities I guess.