I think we all remember that the last time the Democratic Party had the White House and majorities in the House and Senate they incredibly managed to not fulfill a whole bunch of open judgeships. After the Congress changed hands in 1995, many Democrats bemoaned this failing, and wondered what the Clinton Administration was thinking.
Well, it's February 1993 all over again. Yes, there is a terrible economic crisis. But progressives need to make sure the White House can walk and chew gum at the same time. I'm not saying no one in the White House remembers that there are judgeships to be filled. Let's just make sure this issue is a high priority.
More after the jump.
One of the most devastating long-term impacts of Republican control of the White House and/or the Congress from 1980 through 2008, with the exception of those two years under Clinton, has been the inability to confirm large numbers of new, progressive judges to the federal courts while, for much of that time, Republican Presidents were moving the courts hard right. After 1995, Republicans blocked many if not all truly progressive nominations and prevented Clinton from undoing the work of Reagan and Bush I. We know what happened from 2001 to 2006.
So, now is the time to bring our attention to this issue. I believe progressives understand the stakes, so I'm not going to launch into a laundry list of issues the judiciary can effect. So, I'll just close by saying:
Let's confirm some federal judges, eh?