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The Latest by Sean Helle

Senior Attorney

November 11, 2013

The GOP, a Critical Court, and the Politics of Brinksmanship

By Sean Helle  /  Washington, D.C. Office

Update: On November 12, 2013, Senate Republicans blocked an up-or-down vote on Professor Nina Pillard’s nomination to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Once again, Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski were the only Republicans to oppose the filibuster. Professor Pillard is the third of President Obama’s D.C. Circuit nominees to …

June 11, 2013

Grassley's Plan to Block 3 Court Nominees

By Sean Helle  /  Policy and Legislation Team

Given the shrill sounds rising from Washington these days, the news wasn’t easily heard: After years of partisan obstruction and delay, the United States Senate confirmed a judge. To what’s widely regarded as our second-highest court. Unanimously. And last week, recognizing that the D.C. Circuit’s “judicial crisis” has yet to be cured, President Obama sent …

March 21, 2013

Webcast Event to Address D.C. Circuit's Vacancy Crisis

By Sean Helle  /  Policy and Legislation Team & Washington, D.C. Office

Update: On March 22, 2013, President Obama accepted Caitlin Halligan’s request to withdraw as a nominee to the D.C. Circuit. Senate Republicans had blocked a yes-or-no vote on Ms. Halligan’s nomination for more than two years. As the President emphasized in his statement, the D.C. Circuit “is considered the Nation’s second-highest court, but it now has …