President Biden
Joe BidenBiden State of the Union: A plea for unity in unusual times Watch: Key moments from Biden’s first State of the Union address Five takeaways from Biden’s State of the Union address MORE’s nominee to fill a district court vacancy is hitting a dead end in the wake of pushback from GOP Sen. Ron Johnson
Ronald (Ron) Harold Johnson Sunday shows preview: Russia invades Ukraine; Biden nominates Jackson to Supreme Court Scott’s agenda spurs backlash from Democrats, GOP alike GOP senator faces challenge on Trump credentials MORE (Wis.).
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin
Dick DurbinSenate gears up for confirmation of first Black woman to Supreme Court Congress races clock on Ukraine aid amid invasion Ukraine crisis, Supreme Court scramble Democrats’ agenda MORE (D-Ill.) told The Hill on Wednesday that he isn’t moving forward with William Pocan’s nomination after Johnson indicated last month that he wouldn’t support Pocan.
The Senate has a precedent, known as the blue slip rule, that allows a home-state senator to effectively block a district court nominee from their state by not returning their blue slip, a piece of paper that indicates if a senator supports a nomination.
Durbin indicated in the immediate wake of Johnson’s opposition that he hadn’t yet decided whether to move forward with the nomination.
Durbin had generally pledged to honor the blue slip precedent for district court nominees but left the door open to exceptions if the process was abused by GOP senators or in “those cases where it appears to clearly be a case of discrimination based on gender, race or sexual orientation.”
“The blue slip on district courts is clear,” Durbin told The Hill on Wednesday, adding that the caveat he had previously outlined “doesn’t apply here, I don’t think.”
Johnson and Sen. Tammy Baldwin
Tammy Suzanne BaldwinGOP senator opposes Biden court pick, likely blocking nominee Senators try to speed up lengthy votes as frustration builds Milwaukee Bucks exec turned Democratic Senate candidate releases economic plan MORE (D-Wis.) previously recommended Pocan as a potential pick to fill the vacancy. Wisconsin uses a nominating commission that recommends four to six names to the senators, who then formally make recommendations to the president.
Durbin pointed to the two senators and the White House reaching a deal on an alternative nominee as the next step for filling the Wisconsin district court vacancy.
“They have other names that they have proposed to the White House and if they can agree on one, that would be the next step,” he said.
Spokespeople for the White House and Baldwin didn’t immediately respond to questions about the nomination and next steps on coming up with a potential alternative nomination.
Pocan marks the first case of a Biden district court nomination stalling out because of a blue slip objection from a home-state senator
Though Republicans confirmed appeals court nominees for then-President Trump
Donald TrumpFive takeaways from the Texas primaries Five takeaways from Biden’s State of the Union address Five things Biden didn’t talk about in State of the Union MORE over an objection from home-state senators, they kept the blue slip precedent for district court nominees.
Johnson confirmed on Wednesday that he had spoken with Durbin, but indicated that the White House hadn’t yet reached out to him
“I’ve talked to Sen. Durbin about that and he’s aware that there are other alternatives,” Johnson said.
President BidenJoe BidenBiden State of the Union: A plea for unity in unusual times Watch: Key moments from Biden’s first State of the Union address Five takeaways from Biden’s State of the Union address MORE’s nominee to fill a district court vacancy is hitting a dead end in the wake of pushback from GOP Sen. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold Johnson Sunday shows preview: Russia invades Ukraine; Biden nominates Jackson to Supreme Court Scott’s agenda spurs backlash from Democrats, GOP alike GOP senator faces challenge on Trump credentials MORE (Wis.). Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick DurbinDick DurbinSenate gears up for confirmation of first Black woman to Supreme Court Congress races clock on Ukraine aid amid invasion Ukraine crisis, Supreme Court scramble Democrats’ agenda MORE (D-Ill.) told The Hill on Wednesday that he isn’t moving forward with William Pocan’s nomination after Johnson indicated last month that he wouldn’t support Pocan.The Senate has a precedent, known as the blue slip rule, that allows a home-state senator to effectively block a district court nominee from their state by not returning their blue slip, a piece of paper that indicates if a senator supports a nomination. Durbin indicated in the immediate wake of Johnson’s opposition that he hadn’t yet decided whether to move forward with the nomination.Durbin had generally pledged to honor the blue slip precedent for district court nominees but left the door open to exceptions if the process was abused by GOP senators or in “those cases where it appears to clearly be a case of discrimination based on gender, race or sexual orientation.”“The blue slip on district courts is clear,” Durbin told The Hill on Wednesday, adding that the caveat he had previously outlined “doesn’t apply here, I don’t think.” Johnson and Sen. Tammy BaldwinTammy Suzanne BaldwinGOP senator opposes Biden court pick, likely blocking nominee Senators try to speed up lengthy votes as frustration builds Milwaukee Bucks exec turned Democratic Senate candidate releases economic plan MORE (D-Wis.) previously recommended Pocan as a potential pick to fill the vacancy. Wisconsin uses a nominating commission that recommends four to six names to the senators, who then formally make recommendations to the president.Durbin pointed to the two senators and the White House reaching a deal on an alternative nominee as the next step for filling the Wisconsin district court vacancy. “They have other names that they have proposed to the White House and if they can agree on one, that would be the next step,” he said.Spokespeople for the White House and Baldwin didn’t immediately respond to questions about the nomination and next steps on coming up with a potential alternative nomination. Pocan marks the first case of a Biden district court nomination stalling out because of a blue slip objection from a home-state senator Though Republicans confirmed appeals court nominees for then-President TrumpDonald TrumpFive takeaways from the Texas primaries Five takeaways from Biden’s State of the Union address Five things Biden didn’t talk about in State of the Union MORE over an objection from home-state senators, they kept the blue slip precedent for district court nominees. Johnson confirmed on Wednesday that he had spoken with Durbin, but indicated that the White House hadn’t yet reached out to him “I’ve talked to Sen. Durbin about that and he’s aware that there are other alternatives,” Johnson said.