Mary Lewis Confirmed to South Carolina District Court Yesterday

Yesterday, the Senate confirmed Mary Geiger Lewis to a seat on the District Court of  South Carolina by a vote of 64-27. Upon her confirmation, Judge Lewis becomes the third female judge (of ten judges total) on this court, and the 63rd woman confirmed to a district court seat during the Obama Administration. Her confirmation is good news, coming on the heels of a CRS report that concluded both that the number of district court vacancies has increased rather than decreased since the beginning of President Obama's administration, and that "fewer Obama district court nominees have been confirmed by the Senate than were confirmed during the first terms of the four preceding Presidents." Wow.

This conclusion isn't a huge surprise to anyone who has been following judicial nominations, but it is disheartening nonetheless. Given the terrible efficacy of the obstructionist techniques of a minority of determined Senators over the past several years, it is imperative that Senate leadership reject the call to shut down the confirmation process. Today's report that Senate Majority Leader Reid is still pushing forward to schedule votes on circuit court judges [link requires CQ.com login to access] is a step in the right direction. Americans around the country who are waiting for justice can't afford otherwise.