The Senate confirmed President Trump
Donald TrumpDC goes to the dogs — Major and Champ, that is Biden on refugee cap: 'We couldn't do two things at once' Taylor Greene defends 'America First' effort, pushes back on critics MORE's nominee for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday despite objections from both home-state senators. Harris, in a tweet after the vote, called Bress's confirmation a "degradation of Senate institutional norms at the hands of Republican leaders."
Donald TrumpDC goes to the dogs — Major and Champ, that is Biden on refugee cap: 'We couldn't do two things at once' Taylor Greene defends 'America First' effort, pushes back on critics MORE's nominee for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday despite objections from both home-state senators. Senators split in a 53-45 vote along party lines to confirm Daniel Bress as a judge to the San Francisco-based appeals court. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten GillibrandIntelligence leaders warn of threats from China, domestic terrorism Jon Stewart accuses VA of being 'an obstacle' to burn pits medical care Family policy that could appeal to the right and the left MORE (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersWorld passes 3 million coronavirus deaths Sirota: Biden has not fulfilled campaign promise of combating union-busting tactics Democratic senators call on Biden to support waiving vaccine patents MORE (I-Vt.), both of whom are running for president, didn't vote.
Kirsten GillibrandIntelligence leaders warn of threats from China, domestic terrorism Jon Stewart accuses VA of being 'an obstacle' to burn pits medical care Family policy that could appeal to the right and the left MORE (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersWorld passes 3 million coronavirus deaths Sirota: Biden has not fulfilled campaign promise of combating union-busting tactics Democratic senators call on Biden to support waiving vaccine patents MORE (I-Vt.), both of whom are running for president, didn't vote. ADVERTISEMENT
Republicans have come under fierce scrutiny for moving Bress's nomination even though neither Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Emiel FeinsteinOvernight Defense: Army moves to combat sexual crimes | Eight West Point cadets expelled | Democratic senators want to restrict F-35 sale to UAE A proposal to tackle congressional inside trading: Invest in the US Democratic senators seek to constrain F-35 sale to UAE MORE (D-Calif.) nor Sen. Kamala Harris
Kamala HarrisDC goes to the dogs — Major and Champ, that is Florida nurse arrested, accused of threatening to kill Harris Oddsmakers say Harris, not Biden, most likely to win 2024 nomination, election MORE (D-Calif.) returned a blue slip on his nomination.
Dianne Emiel FeinsteinOvernight Defense: Army moves to combat sexual crimes | Eight West Point cadets expelled | Democratic senators want to restrict F-35 sale to UAE A proposal to tackle congressional inside trading: Invest in the US Democratic senators seek to constrain F-35 sale to UAE MORE (D-Calif.) nor Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisDC goes to the dogs — Major and Champ, that is Florida nurse arrested, accused of threatening to kill Harris Oddsmakers say Harris, not Biden, most likely to win 2024 nomination, election MORE (D-Calif.) returned a blue slip on his nomination."I’m very disappointed that Republican leadership decided to schedule a vote on Mr. Bress's nomination given both of our objections to his nomination and our concerns about a lack of connection to our state," Feinstein said ahead of Tuesday's vote to confirm Bress.
In addition the blue-slip fight, Feinstein raised concerns that Bress doesn't have sufficient ties to California to be appointed to one of the state's seats on the 9th Circuit.
The blue-slip rule — a precedent upheld by Senate tradition — has historically allowed a home-state senator to stop a lower court nominee from being confirmed by refusing to return the blue slip to the Judiciary Committee. How strictly the precedent is upheld is decided by the committee chairman, and enforcement has varied depending on who wields the gavel.
But Republicans argue that the blue slip, a sheet of paper that indicates whether a senator supports a nominee, shouldn't be allowed to blackball an appeals court pick because circuits cover multiple states.
Bress is the 42nd Trump circuit court nominee confirmed by the Senate since 2017, as Republicans have set a record pace for sending picks to the influential courts.
He's also one of several nominations Republicans have moved despite objections from both home-state senators, including confirming Daniel Collins and Kenneth Lee to California seats on the 9th Circuit.
Neither Feinstein nor Harris supported any of their nominations to the 9th Circuit.
Republicans praised Trump's pick for the court, which has been a perennial source of annoyance for conservatives who view it as too liberal and too large.
"Mr. Bress comes with strong credentials: the academic pedigree, the legal experience and most importantly a demonstrated commitment to the rule of law," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP acknowledges struggle to bring down Biden Pew poll: 50 percent approve of Democrats in Congress Pelosi on power in DC: 'You have to seize it' MORE (R-Ky.) said, defending Bress ahead of the vote.
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP acknowledges struggle to bring down Biden Pew poll: 50 percent approve of Democrats in Congress Pelosi on power in DC: 'You have to seize it' MORE (R-Ky.) said, defending Bress ahead of the vote. Sen. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamWall Street spent .9B on campaigns, lobbying in 2020 election: study Biden aide: Ability to collect daily intel in Afghanistan 'will diminish' Leaving Afghanistan: Is it victory or defeat? MORE (R-S.C.) called Bress a "fine man," adding that he's "very pleased that the United States Senate has confirmed Daniel Bress to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals."
