GOP Senator Tillis Doesn't Think Confirming Judges Is His Job

I have already documented the staggering levels of obstruction by the Republican Senate to confirm judges nominated by President Obama. And one of the longest unfilled spots in the judiciary is the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This seat has remained unfilled for the last 10 and a half years and one of the Senators responsible for that district these days is none other than Republican Thom Tillis. Tillis also serves on the Judiciary Committee which has unanimously recommended 23 nominations to the full Senate. The nomination to fill the North Carolina vacancy has not even been considered by the Judiciary Committee even though the other Republican Senator from North Carolina recommended Obama's nominee in 2009.

As has been a pretty regular occurrence these days, Elizabeth Warren and Mazie Hirono try to move the nominations of these 23 judges forward in the Senate. And each time Republican Thom Tillis blocks their move. But you can imagine Democrats' surprise the other day when Tillis blocked another move to vote on these judges by saying, "What we get [from Democrats] are things that have nothing to do with doing our jobs. I’m doing my job today and objecting to these measures so we can actually get back to pressing matters."

Of course, one of the responsibilities of the Senate that is clearly laid out in Article II of the Constitution is the confirmation of judges:

[The President] shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

I'm guessing that Senator Tillis, as a member of the Judiciary Committee, has some familiarity with the Constitution. But these days, with Republicans, you never really know. I do know that Merrick Garland, 23 judges, over-worked courts, and citizens around this country would really like Republican Senators to do their job.