Blue Slips for Judicial Nominations: Veto vs. Input

Four nominees to the U.S. Court of Appeals have become controversial because of an important, but often misunderstood, feature of the judicial confirmation process. That feature, called the “blue-slip” courtesy, highlights the views of Senators from a state in which a judicial nominee would serve. A dispute has arisen regarding whether the views of those home-state Senators should dictate, or merely influence, whether the Senate considers these nominees. More specifically, the question is whether a negative or withheld blue slip should be treated as a veto or as input.

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