Potential Slowdown in Senate Judicial Confirmations Due to Feinstein’s Death

Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat on the powerful Judiciary Committee is now vacant following her death and, if not filled, could impede the confirmation of many of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees, Politico has reported.

To fill her seat, unanimous consent from the chamber is required, meaning that if any Republican were to object, Democrats would need at least 60 votes to appoint a replacement for Feinstein.

Some Republicans believe this is unlikely to happen.  

“Democrats have a majority in the Senate. They won the election, so they are entitled to a majority on all the committees,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., a member of the Judiciary committee. “I don’t know on what grounds you would say, ‘well, not on Judiciary, though.'”

“I don’t think anyone’s going to do that,” said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told Business Insider. “Some Democrat’s gonna fill that spot.”

“I assume it will be handled the same way it has traditionally been handled,” added Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

Feinstein, the longtime serving Democratic U.S. senator from California, passed away at the age of 90 on Friday. She was a vocal advocate for gun control and played a major role in enacting the first federal assault weapons ban, as well as exposing the CIA’s torture of foreign terrorism suspects.