The Trump administration is pushing to confirm a new wave of federal judges before the end of the year as uncertainty over control of the Senate raises the possibility that the White House could soon face a much more difficult confirmation environment, according to Reuters.

President Donald Trump announced 13 judicial nominees during a nine-day period in August while the Republican-controlled Senate was in recess. Six of those nominees are scheduled to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday.

Five additional judicial nominees are already awaiting action by the full Senate, which currently has a 53-47 Republican majority and confirms federal judges by a simple majority vote.

The approaching November 3 midterm elections have increased the urgency surrounding the nominations. A change in Senate control would substantially alter the administration’s ability to move nominees through the confirmation process once the next Congress takes office.

Federal judges serve lifetime appointments, making judicial confirmations one of the most durable powers available to a president and Senate majority. The current push gives the White House only a limited period to move its pending nominees through the chamber before the political landscape could potentially change.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)