Inside Senate Democrats' last-ditch deal to confirm judges

Senate Democrats are flexing their outgoing majority, filling a mass of court vacancies with liberal judges before the Senate term ends on Dec. 20—and before they lose their majority in January.

“It’s far too important, and we’re not going to let anything stand in our way,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters on Tuesday. “Everyone should be prepared for another late night on Wednesday to vote on nominations and get as many judges done as possible.”

And a late night it was, with the vote lasting to around midnight. Democrats succeeded in confirming two additional judges—one in Washington state and one in Washington, D.C. Since Donald Trump won the presidential election earlier this month, Senate Democrats have confirmed nine judges, many to lifetime appointments. Few, if any, Republicans have supported the nominees.

Democrats have confirmed a new judge almost every weekday since Nov. 12. And now they’re guaranteed to vote on at least another 12.