Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Committee Hearing On Six Judicial Nominations

Statement

"This is an interesting day in the Committee because both Senator Graham and I on a bipartisan basis have urged Republican Senators to sit down with the Biden White House and see if they can reach a common agreement on nominations. It is not unheard of. During the Trump Administration, Senator Duckworth and I filled every vacancy and negotiated with the Trump White House. The difference in political philosophy was obvious, but we believe that we found nominees who really would be neutral or at least objective in dealing with the law. And this has happened again today.

I would like to thank President Biden, and my Republican colleagues, especially my colleague, Senator Graham, for achieving this status. Some people were skeptical of the blue slip, which gives to the Senators from the state the ultimate word as to whether or not a nomination goes forward. We both believe in it if… it is used conscientiously and fairly, and today is evidence that it can be.

We have 35 more judicial vacancies in states with Republican Senators. I urge every single one of them to sit down with the White House and see if they can find some common ground for these nominations. It is not impossible, but it takes patience and give-and-take. But ultimately, we can fill these vacancies and the American people expect us to."

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