Gang of 14 to Meet: Boyle the Real Test Case

According to Roll Call (subscription required), the Gang of 14 will meet soon to discuss how to handle upcoming judicial nominations.

‘Gang’ Set to Meet on Judges
May 3, 2006
By Erin P. Billings,
Roll Call Staff

With the stage set for a confrontation over two controversial judicial nominations, Senators in the “Gang of 14” are expected to meet in the coming days to chart a strategy regarding what role the bipartisan group will play in trying to avoid another ugly battle over filibusters. “We are going to meet,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said of the group of seven Democrats and seven Republicans, adding only that the session would occur “real soon.”

The 14 Senators came together last May in an agreement that averted a showdown over consideration of several pending judicial nominees. The group has been quiet in recent months but is back in focus after Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) vowed last week to advance two controversial appellate court hopefuls — Brett Kavanaugh and Terrence Boyle — by Memorial Day.

Senators in the gang, on both sides of the aisle, acknowledged Tuesday that they have held informal talks about how to proceed, and sources familiar with those conversations said plans are under way to try to sit down as early as this week or sometime next week.

The article doesn't give us much of substance, except a suggestion that (notwithstanding Harry Reid's moronic comments), Democrats will fight harder against the Boyle nomination than that of Kavanaugh:

Sources indicated that Democrats are more likely to try to filibuster Boyle than Kavanaugh, since Boyle is viewed as more extreme politically and judicially questionable. Democrats are primarily concerned with Kavanaugh’s résumé and the fact his only Senate hearing occurred nearly two years ago, sources said. They argue Boyle, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, is unfit because a high number of his decisions have been reversed by other courts and also take issue with his rulings relating to civil rights and anti-discrimination cases.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday characterized Boyle’s nomination as “outrageous” and called Kavanaugh’s experience “non-existent.”

“The answer is, is there a possibility of filibuster? Of course,” Reid said.

Senate Democrats will once again be forced to ask themselves: is it worth it to continue to block judicial nominees, at the cost of potentially reducing the threshhold for confirmation of a Supreme Court Justice to a simple majority vote? With both parties playing 'base' politics in preparation for the midterm elections, there will be great pressure to filibuster, and vote on the 'nuclear option.'

ConfirmThem has this story as well.

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