The pace of nominations and confirmations of judges to Article III courts has been very slow, and it has left federal courts short-handed in the performance of their duties. A President's slate of nominees also shapes profoundly the meaning of justice in the U.S.
The Senate has been complicit in the historic delays, but the Administration bears responsibility for providing the nominees and agitating for action. With a Senate that is not likely to be any more collaborative after the 2014 elections, the time is now for nominations.
We urge the Obama Administration to set a target of the end of 2013, by which point it shall have made a nomination for every open federal judicial seat (district and appellate courts) and pressed for prompt action on those nominations.