Benjamin S. Weiss

NEW: Ranking Member Raskin urges Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Schumer to reject the radical MAGA nominee Jeanine Pirro, who is wildly unfit to lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C., prioritizing her blind loyalty to Trump over the Constitution.

House Dems push Senate to reject Jeanine Pirro as US attorney for DC The Senate Judiciary Committee last week advanced the former Fox News host’s appointment as D.C.’s top federal prosecutor on a party-line vote, and she appears well positioned for confirmation by the ...

EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Jamie Raskin heaped pressure on Senate leadership Thursday to oppose Jeanine Pirro’s confirmation as U.S. attorney for D.C., expressing “grave concern” that she would serve as a partisan instrument of the Trump admin. @CourthouseNews.bsky.social
www.courthousenews.com/house-dems-p...

Dems accuse White House of sidelining them on First, Third Circuit nominees Lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee complained that the Trump administration did not adequately consult with Democratic home state senators on its nominees for crucial appellate court vacancie...

Lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee complained that the Trump administration did not adequately consult with Democratic home state senators on its nominees for crucial appellate court vacancies. @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/dems-accuse-...

What are blue slips? The century-old Senate tradition Trump wants trashed Lawmakers have long abided by the practice as a mechanism for giving senators a say on judicial nominees for their home states, but blue slips have a checkered past — and critics say they are ripe for...

What are blue slips? The century-old Senate tradition Trump wants trashed @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/what-are-blu...

What are blue slips? The century-old Senate tradition Trump wants trashed Lawmakers have long abided by the practice as a mechanism for giving senators a say on judicial nominees for their home states, but blue slips have a checkered past — and critics say they are ripe for...

Folks in my mentions after Trump called for the end of the Senate blue slip tradition asking a pertinent question: wtf are blue slips?

Here’s an explainer on one of the Senate’s more arcane practices (that I’ve covered for years).
@CourthouseNews.bsky.social
www.courthousenews.com/what-are-blu...

In a statement, Sen. Durbin, top Dem on Judiciary, says he's "disappointed but not surprised" with Trump's call to end the blue slip.

In Judiciary just now he thanks Grassley for standing by the practice & says he hopes "that continues to be the case."

"Yes," Grassley replies.

Grassley: "People in real America don't care about what the blue slip is. But, in fact, it impacts their states, the district judges who serve their communities and US attorneys who ensure that law and order is enforced."

Definitely seems like a repudiation of Trump's demands.

GRASSLEY is addressing Trump's blue slip comments in Judiciary this morning.

"I was offended by what the president said, and I'm disappointed that it will result in personal insults," he said.

By a vote of 50-49, the Senate has just confirmed Emil Bove to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Sen. Murkowski, Sen. Collins the lone Republican no votes.

Trump urges Senate GOP to end blue slip tradition for federal judges, US attorneys The blue slip, a longstanding Senate tradition that gives lawmakers a mechanism for weighing in on White House judicial nominees, has been regarded as one of the last remaining vestiges of bipartisans...

President Donald Trump on Tuesday demanded that Republicans abandon the Senate blue slip tradition, calling the decades-old practice a “hoax” and framing it as an unnecessary impediment to his executive authority. @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/trump-urges-...

Statement from Grassley spox doesn't signal to me that he's ready to walk away from blue slips - spox points out that Grassley/Judiciary have already moved US atty noms with Dem blue slip approval and that "all 100 senators have a say" on noms once they clear Judiciary.

Trump urges Senate GOP to end blue slip tradition for federal judges, US attorneys The blue slip, a longstanding Senate tradition that gives lawmakers a mechanism for weighing in on White House judicial nominees, has been regarded as one of the last remaining vestiges of bipartisans...

NEW: Pres. Trump has demanded that Republicans abandon the century-old Senate blue slip tradition, a move that could effectively cut Dems out of the judicial selection process for many Trump admin nominees in their home states. @courthousenews.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/trump-urges-...

I'm trying to find that out for sure, but it's probably complicated. Grassley in '17 walked away from blue slips for circuit court judges but has honored them for district judges/US attorneys. He's said this year he still supports them, but we'll what he does w/Trump pressuring him.

Senate Democrats’ defense of blue slips a scarlet letter for some The age-old Senate tradition is aimed at giving home state lawmakers a say in who fills federal judicial vacancies in their districts, but critics say the process is ripe for abuse.

Here's my explainer on it from when Senate Dems were in charge! www.courthousenews.com/senate-democ...

And there it is — Trump calls for the end of the Senate blue slip process for both judges and attorneys. Often viewed as one of the last vestiges of bipartisanship in the chamber.

Trump is calling it a “hoax.”

Before vote, Dems seek answers from DOJ inspector general on Emil Bove whistleblower reports As many as three whistleblowers have come forward with claims that the Third Circuit nominee and top Justice Department official suggested that the agency could ignore court orders and that he misled ...

As many as three whistleblowers have come forward with claims that Third Circuit nominee Emil Bove suggested that the Justice Department could ignore court orders. @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/before-vote-...

As Emil Bove gears up to face a Senate confirmation vote this week, Dems are urging the DOJ's independent inspector general to disclose any investigation his office may be conducting into the Third Circuit nominee. @courthousenews.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/before-vote-...

New Jersey Democrats slam Trump gambit to install Habba as US attorney without approval Trump appears to be using the same playbook he did with a New York federal prosecutor appointee to extend Habba’s term as U.S. attorney for New Jersey — a position that usually requires Senate confirm...

NJ’s Democratic senators are furious with the White House after their state’s interim U.S. attorney, Alina Habba, signaled that she would remain in her position beyond the end of her term — and after the DOJ fired her replacement. @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/new-jersey-d...

New Jersey Democrats slam Trump gambit to install Habba as US attorney without approval Trump appears to be using the same playbook he did with a New York federal prosecutor appointee to extend Habba’s term as U.S. attorney for New Jersey — a position that usually requires Senate confirm...

New Jersey’s senators are furious with the Trump admin after their home state’s interim US attorney signaled she would remain in her position beyond the end of her term — and after the Justice Department fired her replacement. @courthousenews.bsky.social
www.courthousenews.com/new-jersey-d...

Trump has WITHDRAWN Habba’s Senate nom — part of a gambit to keep her on the job past the end of her 120 day tenure as acting.

WH used similar move to keep John Sarcone on as US atty in N. Dist of NY and appears they’re doing that here.

Legal? Trying to figure that out.

On today’s episode of “what even is Congress’ job anyway?” …

Third Circuit nominee Emil Bove clears final Senate hurdle ahead of confirmation vote The Trump administration has urged lawmakers to approve Bove’s nomination, while Democrats argue the Justice Department official and former personal lawyer to the president would make a blatantly part...

President Donald Trump’s controversial Third Circuit nominee Emil Bove was one step away from Senate confirmation Thursday, as lawmakers approved one last procedural measure and teed up his nomination for a final floor vote. @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/third-circui...

Senate advances Pirro as US attorney for DC after false start Lawmakers also debriefed on last week’s partisan scrap in the Judiciary Committee, which saw Democrats walk out of a vote on Third Circuit nominee Emil Bove as Republicans cut off debate.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted to advance Jeanine Pirro’s nomination as U.S. attorney for D.C., moving the former Fox News host and New York state prosecutor one step closer to final confirmation. @courthousenews.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/senate-advan...

Grassley says he and Booker had a "fruitful" conversation in private, reiterates his earlier explanation that he limited debate on Bove in part because of scheduling conflicts.

Booker on the lack of debate last week: "We've created a climate in this country that is deepening and deepening - a reflexive tribalism where people aren't interested in listening to the facts anymore."

Sen. Booker not satisfied with Grassley's explanation that the committee chairman can override debate rules with a vote - pointing out there wasn't a vote held on such an override at last week's Bove business meeting.

After Judiciary scrap, Senate Republicans forge ahead with Emil Bove nomination Democrats and some legal experts have said that Republicans violated Senate rules to advance Bove’s nomination — but top GOP lawmakers have argued that they were merely following precedent set under t...

Following Dems' walkout from Judiciary, Republicans had argued that the move to limit debate on Bove and other nominees was the result of a precedent set by Dems & Sen. Durbin in 2023: www.courthousenews.com?post_type=po...

After last week's Judiciary blowup over the Bove nomination, appears a bit of detente on the committee as Grassley says he doesn't "intend" to force votes on nominees like he did with Bove unless "consideration is being unfairly obstructed."

Scuffle over US attorney pick Alina Habba leaves New Jersey senators in the dark Senator Andy Kim urged the Trump administration to respect the decision by District of New Jersey judges to end former Trump attorney Alina Habba's interim stint as U.S. attorney.

New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim ripped the Trump admin Wednesday over what he said was its opaque approach to Alina Habba & DOJ’s removal of her court-appointed replacement as acting US atty in his home state. @courthousenews.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/scuffle-over...

Cracks show in Senate GOP over Emil Bove nomination At least two Republican lawmakers have signaled that they will oppose Bove’s confirmation to the Third Circuit — but the nominee remains on track to survive a final Senate vote in the coming days.

Cracks show in Senate GOP over Emil Bove nomination @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/cracks-show-...