Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he intends to continue to confirm judicial nominees throughout the 2018 calendar year until the conclusion of the 115th Congress.
Thus far, the Senate has confirmed 15 appeals court judges and 17 district court judges and McConnell intends to keep that up when Congress returns to town next week. He also noted the Senate will bring up six more circuit court nominations next week after having filed cloture on them before the weeklong recess
“We’re going to continue to confirm judges all year,” McConnell told host Hugh Hewitt. “The Congress doesn’t stop with the elections. It goes until the end of the year. We’re going to do six more [circuit nominations] next week, which will bring us to 21. I’m processing them as quickly as they come out of the Judiciary Committee, and the administration is sending them up rapidly.”
“I don’t know what the final number is, but my goal, Hugh, is to confirm all the circuit and district court judges that come out of committee this calendar year. All of them,” McConnell said.
The Kentucky Republican also said that he isn’t not sure whether or not there will be an opening on the Supreme Court this year. Rumors continue to swirl around the possible retirement of Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, 81, who has served on the court for over 30 years.
“I really don’t know,” McConnell said. He said that if a retirement does come up in the coming months, that Supreme Court nomination would go to the front of the line and be taken up immediately.
“It would go to the front of the line. No question about it. If there is a Supreme Court vacancy, it takes priority. No question about it,” McConnell told the host.
