Graham: Senate may confirm Trump judges into 2021

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Friday opened the door to continuing to confirm President Trump’s judicial nominees in 2021, right up until when the next president, likely Joe Biden, is sworn in on Jan. 20.

“I think we got some district court judges that were Republican and Democrat. But, yeah, the committee will keep operating. I’ll get back with you about more details about how far to go,” he told reporters on a call when asked about whether the Senate could possibly continue to confirm judges in December and January, even if Trump loses. “We’ll see what happens with the presidential race.”

Graham said his first legislative priority is to “try to get a coronavirus stimulus package before January.”

“I’ve been in the camp of going big,” he said. “We need a big package, some Republicans don’t agree. We have to see how the presidential race shapes up.”

The GOP senator said Trump has a path to victory if he can make a comeback in Arizona, where Joe Biden currently has 50 percent of the vote with 93 percent of the estimated vote reported, while Trump has 48.6 percent.

“If Trump comes back in Arizona, and he actually takes Arizona, this is going to be one hell of a fight,” Graham said.

“If at the end of the day he falls short in Arizona, I think most people trust Arizona to have done it right. Republicans trust Gov. Ducey,” he said, referring to Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R). “The trend seems to be that Trump actually could win Arizona.” 

There are currently two U.S. appellate court vacancies and 55 U.S. district court vacancies. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said last week that he will try to confirm as many of Trump’s court picks as he can, even if he doesn’t win the election.

“We’re going to run through the tape. We go through the end of the year, and so does the president. We’re going to fill the 7th Circuit, and I’m hoping we have time to fill the 1st Circuit as well,” McConnell told conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt.

“And we are, by the way, confirming a district judge as soon as we get back after the election, and we’re going to clean the plate, clean all the district judges off as well,” McConnell said.