Senate prepares for slaughter in Trump court

The Senate is preparing for a late-year fight on President TrumpDonald John TrumpMichelle Obama declares that it is not always easy to adhere to the principle of "going high" Georgia certifies the election results in a fierce race to governor Trump's elections defends the deployment of the border under a new PLUS controlJudicial appointments of.

Republicans believe that the top priority is to fill the seats for life in the courts and should confirm as many candidates as possible before the Senate adjourns, infuriating the Democrats and their allies, powerless to stop Trump's choices.

Leader of the majority Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSunday preview: New Members' Agenda After Democrat House Takeover, Donald Trump, Preside Closely at Graham's Place (R-Ky.) Is already voting for two nominations – Jonathan Kobes will be a judge of the 8th trial court and Thomas Farr will be a trial judge – when senators return from the break thanksgiving.

And Republicans expect McConnell to multiply nominations by December 14, the deadline for the chamber to close for the year.

"This is Senator McConnell's number one priority is to continue moving judges," Sen said. John CornynJohn CornynTrump's support may not be enough for criminal justice reform Congress should ban life sentences without parole for children GOP Senate debating Mueller vote MORE (R-Texas), the Republican ranked second.

There are 35 judicial candidates in the Senate's calendar, leaving more candidates than days remaining in the Senate's work schedule to confirm selections.

McConnell is committed to nominating each of the Trump candidates who are not on the committee by the end of the year. If he succeeds in this plan, he will need a final package of nominations or will keep the Senate in session during the holidays.

Sen. Tom CottonThomas (Tom) Bryant CottonTrump is preparing to preside over his powerful ally Graham. McConnell: Unlikely criminal justice bill this year Cotton opposes Trump PLUS-backed criminal justice bill (R-Ark.) Said that McConnell had promised not to leave any candidates in court behind him, adding that it was up to Democrats to determine when they wanted to leave the city.

"It's really up to them to decide if they want to confirm those on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, or if they want to confirm them earlier in December by making time," Cotton said at the conference. Radio host Hugh Hewitt.

Republicans quickly confirmed Trump's judicial candidates, setting a record for the number of appeals upheld by judges during the first two years of an administration.

McConnell recently touted the record number of circuit judges at the Federalist Society's Antonin Scalia memorial dinner, adding that "there will be more before the end of the current convention."

Although Republicans have had the first unified GOP government for a decade, McConnell believes that judicial appointments are the party's best chance to have a long-term impact on the country's direction.

Highlighting the importance of nominations, the issue was raised at a recent White House meeting between Trump, McConnell and Sen. Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyTrump on the financing of the border wall: "It would be a very good time to close the doors" Kellyanne Conway: Trump could close the government to finance the wall On the budget: a GOP senator warns against closing | The US Treasury sanctions 17 Saudis for the assassination of Khashoggi | The HQ2 agreement brings a new review on Amazon | Senate confirms appointment of Bowman to Fed Board of Directors (R-Ala.) And Sen. John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneA Bipartite Senate Bill Would Penalize Illegal Hillicon Valley Automated Calls: Russia-Related Hackers Could Impose as US Officials | Trump signs the DHS cyber-bill | Prosecutors inadvertently reveal charges against Assange | Accenture workers protest border surveillance work | App Mines Encrypt for Bail Bonds Senators Push Bipartite Bill to Curb Automated Calls MORE (R-S.D.) To discuss the end-of-year program.

"McConnell explained that it was one of her priorities and how important it was," Shelby said after the meeting.

The uncompromising tactics of the GOP has infuriated the Democrats and their allies, who can not stop Trump's choices without the help of Republicans.

People for the American Way Executive Vice President Marge Baker presented to Kobes and Farr the latest examples of Judicial Committee Chair Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyTrump wants to have a close ally Graham in a powerful presidency Night Health Care – Presented by the Partnership for Safe Drugs – GOP Legislature Pushes Trump Drug Regime | Pfizer will increase the price of 41 drugs next year | Grassley chooses McConnell for the Department of Finance: an unlikely criminal justice bill this year MORE (R-Iowa) and McConnell have "taken an irresponsible and irresponsible approach to Trump's dangerous judicial appointments," adding that both senators "have degraded the Senate in the pursuit of their ultra-partisan agenda."

Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenDems Wonders If Sherrod Brown Could Be Their Magic Man Voting Countdown: Abrams Ends Battle in Georgia Governor's Run | Latest news on the counting of Florida | Booker and Harris head election campaign in Mississippi | Why has tax legislation not saved the majority of the GOP? Entrepreneur boasts big solutions and approves the debate on the presidential candidacy PLUS (D-Mass.) Seized McConnell's decision to announce his candidacy for Farr's candidacy, claiming that he was making an "ultimate effort" and warning that Farr, if it was confirmed, "will continue his efforts to deprive African Americans and communities of color their rights.

For months, tensions over judicial appointments have been exacerbated. Republicans accuse Democrats of "obstruction" and Democrats argue that McConnell and Grassley are destroying Senate standards in order to fill the courts with conservative judges.

Frustrations erupted under the justice of the Supreme Court Brett KavanaughBrett Michael KavanaughTrump is preparing to place his close ally Graham in a mighty presidency. Sotomayor: Kavanaugh is now part of the Supreme Court's family The Hill's 12:30 Report – Sponsored by Delta Air Lines – The White House temporarily restores press card of Acosta order | Graham takes charge of judicial training | Manual Recount for the Florida Senate Run PLUSConfirmation fight with Sen. John KennedyJohn Neely KennedyMORE (R-La.) Recognizing that relations within the Judiciary Committee are still "a little tense".

But Democrats are powerless to arrest Trump's candidates themselves after adopting nuclear power in 2013 and lowered the filibuster by 60 votes for most simple majority nominations. Republicans followed suit in 2017 and eliminated the 60-voice hurdle for Supreme Court choices.

To give the Democrats another blow, Grassley moves the candidates to the circuit court against the objection of the senators from their home country. The Senate confirmed the nominees even if a senator from the state of residence did not return his blue slip, a sheet of paper indicating whether they support the candidacy.

But if the Republicans want to reach the maximum number of judicial candidates, they can confirm that they will have to defuse the fight with a member of their own party, Sen. Jeff FlakeJeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeTrump defends border deployment under tight control Sunday's shows: a prerelease for new members after the takeover of Democratic House According to a senior political reporter, voters in New Hampshire have " hunger "to moderate political turmoil MORE (Arizona.).

Flake, who retires in January, refuses to support judicial candidates until he votes on a law protecting special advocates. Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: The United States should applaud Mueller's choice to lead the investigation into Russia.

"The hope here is that we submit this to a vote and we can approve of other judges," Flake said. "It was a circuit court judge that helped me get the nomination we would like to see on the 9th circuit. It is non controversial. We should move on, there are other non-controversial judges, but the priority here must be to protect the special council. "

No Republican has said that it would help Flake block Senate appointments, but the party holds a majority of 11-10 members of the Judiciary Committee, which means that controversial appointments, regularly approved by the parties , will be stuck at committee level until Republicans can calm down. Flake or win a democrat.

Sen. Dick DurbinRichard (Dick) Joseph Durbin – Night Health Care – Presented by Safe Medications Partnership – GOP Legislature Pushes Trump Drug Plan | Pfizer will increase the price of 41 drugs next year | Grassley opts for Finance Judge McConnell: Criminal Justice Bill is unlikely this year Trump's support may not be enough to reform criminal justice (D-Ill.), A panel member, praised Flake's tactics, saying he had "struck at the heart of the Republican agenda."

"They are more determined to approve judges than anything they work on," Durbin said.

Republicans discussed how to break Flake's stalemate during their last caucus in-camera luncheon before the Thanksgiving break, but made no decision. A GOP senator suggested giving it a symbolic, non-binding vote on the "sense of the Senate," but Flake rejected the offer.

This is not the first time Flake has issued an ultimatum on judicial appointments. He briefly objected to the Circuit Court's decisions regarding Trump's pricing policy, but abandoned it when he obtained a procedural vote on trade policy.

With Flake coming out, McConnell could just wait until next year. If a candidate is not confirmed by the end of the year, the White House must rename this person – a quick but non-fatal procedure.

Republicans will have a majority of 52 to 53 seats next year. Florida Governor Rick Scott (right) wins a victory over Democratic Sen. Bill NelsonClarence (Bill) William NelsonDems seeks to revise the voting rules in Florida: legal battle Countdown to the elections: Abrams puts an end to the battle in the race of the governor of Georgia | Latest news on the counting of Florida | Booker and Harris head election campaign in Mississippi | Why has tax legislation failed to save the majority of GOP voters? Trump's position on the mid-term exams: "epic" victory in the Senate, "better than the other presidents in office" in the House of Commons on Sunday. In Mississippi, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (right) and Mike Espy (right) face off in a second round scheduled for November 27th.

McConnell noted at the meeting of the Federalist Society that the Senate was a matter of "personal" and that Republicans would have a "reinforced majority" to confirm the judges next year.

"The American people smiled in the Senate … we will continue to do it for another two years," he said.

And Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamSunday shows preview: New members have previewed the agenda after the takeover of Democratic House, Trump is preparing to entrust his close ally Graham a powerful president position on The Money: Why the tax law has not saved the majority of the GOP | Grassley chooses finance hammer to prepare Graham for the bench | Trump says China wants trade deal | Facebook takes over after the damning NYT PLUS report (R-S.C.), Who is expected to chair the Judiciary Committee next year, is committed to working toward the confirmation of Conservative judges if his colleagues choose him to lead the panel.

"If I have the chance to be chosen by my colleagues as President, I will be arguing for the appointment and confirmation by the Senate of highly qualified conservative judges in the federal judiciary," Graham said.