GOP Slows Noncontroversial Judicial Votes

• By Carl Tobias
• Special to Roll Call
• Dec. 10, 2009, Midnight

When Barack Obama took the oath as president in early 2009, the United States courts of appeals had vacancies in 14 of its 179 judgeships. The White House knew that promptly filling these openings was crucial and instituted special practices to facilitate appointments, pledging to halt the “confirmation wars” that have troubled selections in the past.