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.