Black Caucus urges Senate Democrats to break with tradition on judicial appointments.

The Congressional Black Caucus is urging Senate Democrats to eliminate the tradition of blue slips, which gives a single senator veto power over President Joe Biden’s judicial picks. Republicans have recently used this practice to block one district court nominee and stall another, slowing Biden’s efforts to stock the federal bench. The dispute has huge implications for the future of the federal judiciary, the Senate, and the White House. With the House run by Republicans until 2024 at least, Senate Democrats still can confirm judges for lifetime appointments without a single GOP vote, but Republicans can block some of those nominees from ever getting to the chamber floor by denying blue slips.