Schumer explains reported GOP deal on judges

The office of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is defending a reported deal where Democrats ceded four appeals court nominations in favor of confirming more of President Joe Biden’s lower-level federal judicial appointees.

“The trade was four circuit nominees — all lacking the votes to get confirmed — for more than triple the number of additional judges moving forward,” a spokesperson for Schumer said Thursday.

Democrats have confirmed 221 of Biden’s picks for the federal courts after the Senate overwhelmingly approved Sharad Desai for a federal judicial post in Arizona on Thursday. Republicans have tried throughout the week to erect procedural hurdles to slow confirmation of more Biden judicial nominees.

President-elect Donald Trump has urged GOP senators to do everything possible to block further confirmation of judges nominated by Biden, despite Democratic control the Senate floor. The chamber will vote on the nominations of seven judicial nominees once lawmakers return after Thanksgiving.

It’s worth noting the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nominations of six more judicial picks, including former Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-N.Y.), on Thursday. Those selections are expected to get chamber consideration.

Ursula Perano contributed to this report.