Thank you Senator Feinstein
Not only the WSJ, but also "Minnesota's own" StarTribune had editorials going after Franken for not returning the "blue slip" in support of Justice David Stras who was nominated by Trump to the Eighth U.S. District Court of Appeals.
The Strib editorial even compared Franken's action to the way the turtle treated Garland. Walter Mondale had an op-ed defending Franken.
http://www.startribune.com/franken-s-ignoble-rejection-of-stras-nomination/443112683/
But yesterday a letter from Senator Feinstein appeared in the WSJ:
The editorial board completely discounts the history of the blue slip, which requires both home-state senators to sign off on judicial nominees from their state (“The Al Franken Standard,” Sept. 13).
Here are the facts: In 2016 alone, President Obama’s nominations of Judge Abdul Kallon for the 11th Circuit, Justice Myra Selby for the Seventh Circuit, Rebecca Haywood for the Third Circuit and Justice Lisabeth Tabor Hughes for the Sixth Circuit did not move forward because they didn’t receive two blue slips.
Trump nominees have been confirmed to two of these vacancies, and nominees for the two other vacancies are pending.
Consider the specifics of the Sixth Circuit vacancy in Kentucky: In March 2016, after the vacancy had been open for almost 1,000 days, President Obama nominated Justice Hughes. Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul did not return their blue slips, and Justice Hughes never received a hearing.
Their prerogative as home-state senators was honored, and the prerogative of home-state senators should continue to be honored.
The editorial board was silent when these highly qualified nominees were blocked, and it’s important to set the record straight.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.)
Ranking Member
Senate Judiciary Committee
Washington
https://www.wsj.com/articles/respect-prerogative-of-home-state-senators-1505857328
(probably for subscribers only)
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