To the editor:
The Times editorial board accurately describes the severely deteriorated state of federal judicial selection and suggests that Republican obstruction during President Obama’s two terms in office is substantially responsible for the 100-plus current vacancies. (“Another judicial dirty trick from Senate Republicans,” editorial, Jan. 3)
Indeed, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals currently has four openings, all of which have been declared judicial emergencies. The editorial astutely states that Democrats could retaliate by similarly obstructing President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees. It also correctly observes that Trump could and should “make a significant gesture toward restoring a measure of normality” to the selection process by renominating the Obama nominees left stranded by GOP obstruction to be confirmed with bipartisan approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
However, Obama can and should re-submit those nominees now, and the Senate should confirm them immediately.
Carl Tobias, Richmond, Va.
Note from KBJ: If you think that President Trump will renominate any of Barack Obama's judicial nominees, then you are living in Cloud Cuckoo Land. Nor should he. He has nothing to do with the judicial backlog. Trump should nominate anyone he pleases and see whether Democrats are able to stop him. Democrats would do the same if the roles were reversed.
