Due entirely to the intransigence of the Senate, more than 1 in 8 federal judgeships are currently vacant. These vacancies are causing massive backlogs and delays in our nation's already heavily stretched federal courts.
The Senate has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to block the judicial nomination process for purely political reasons and without regard to the real-world effects on American citizens. No reasonable observer would conclude that the Senate is likely to change their behavior in the foreseeable future.
We call upon the Obama administration to circumvent the US Senate by executing a recess appointment for any nominee currently awaiting confirmation to a judgeship regarded by The Judicial Conference as an "emergency vacancy".
Justice delayed is justice denied.