The deal also clears the way for Democrats to confirm 13 judges.
The top Democrat in the U.S. Senate said late Nov. 21 that an agreement had been reached with Republicans that will give Democrats the opportunity to quickly confirm 13 judges in return for withdrawing votes on four other nominees.
Under the agreement, Democrats have promised not to move forward with four of President Joe Biden’s appellate court nominees, leaving vacancies for President-elect Donald Trump to fill once he takes office. In return, Republicans will not employ any tactics to delay the confirmation of 13 other judges.
The deal will see the Senate consider seven nominees to U.S. district courts during the week following Thanksgiving, according to a Senate Democrat leadership aide. Plus, another six district judges would be placed on the Senate executive calendar, making it possible for them to be considered on the Senate floor in December.
“The trade was four circuit nominees—all lacking the votes to get confirmed—for more than triple the number of additional judges moving forward,” a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told news outlets in a statement.
The vacancies poised to be left open for Trump to fill are on the U.S. Court