INSTITUTE INDEX: U.S. Senate politics and the deepening judicial crisis

Since the U.S. Senate came under Republican control earlier this year, number of federal judges it has confirmed as it carries out a strategy of delaying judicial appointments for partisan gain: 8

Number of years since the pace of judicial confirmations has been this slow as Republicans await a GOP president to make appointments instead of President Obama: over 60

Number of federal judicial vacancies at the start of this year: 43

Number of federal judicial vacancies currently: 67

Of the 67 current judicial vacancies, number that have been deemed judicial emergencies due to the critical number of filings before the courts in question: 30

Percent increase in judicial emergencies this year: 158

Of the 30 judicial emergencies, number in the South: 17

Number of years some judicial positions have been vacant due to Senate inaction: 9

Of the 38 judicial vacancies without a nominee, percent that are in states with at least one Republican senator: 92

Of six judges confirmed between January and early September of this year, average number of days Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) forced them to wait on the calendar: 80

Number of days it took for Texas Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz to start the selection process for an Eastern District vacancy in Tyler, Texas, even as judges and local business groups urged swift action: 441

Months that Southern District of Florida nominee Mary Barzee Flores — recommended to fill a seat deemed a judicial emergency by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who then withheld his formal approval — has been waiting for a confirmation hearing: 8

Number of years there has been a judicial emergency in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) withheld formal approval for Obama-nominated federal prosecutor Jennifer May-Parker without explanation, leading to her nomination being returned: 10

Since then, indications that Burr or Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) have made any effort to identify a new nominee: 0

Number of judges the Democratic-controlled Senate confirmed during the last two years of George W. Bush's presidency: 68

Number of judges the Republican-controlled Senate confirmed during the last two years of Bill Clinton's presidency: 73

Toll-free number concerned citizens are being asked to call this week to urge their Senators to take action on judicial nominees: 866-338-5720

(Click on figure to go to source.)