Lindsey Graham breaks with most Republican colleagues by supporting Biden judicial nominees
3 hours ago
The South Carolina senator has voted in favor of nearly all of Biden's judicial picks
With Democrats controlling the Senate, it comes as no surprise that President Biden has successfully nominated dozens of federal judges, but nearly all of those picks enjoyed the support of a high-profile Republican: Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
Graham, who until January was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, voted in favor of all but three of Biden’s picks who have gone before the full Senate for votes. In two of those cases he did not vote at all, and he voted no in just one.
In a political environment that has become highly polarized – particularly when it comes to presidential nominations – Graham’s approach to judicial nominations harkens back to earlier times when judges were approved based on qualifications instead of ideologies.
"When the president wins the White House, they have the right to pick the judges of their choosing," a member of Graham's office told Fox News, stating that the senator "believes the constitutional and historical standards are what should be used for judges."
The Republican Graham voted to confirm both Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, even though "he did not agree with them," they added. "Only in the most unusual circumstances should you vote against a nominee."
Graham spoke about this at the opening of the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett – the last high court selection made by former President Donald Trump.
Graham recalled how Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose death resulted in the vacancy filled by Barrett, was confirmed by a vote of 96-3. Despite already having a reputation as a liberal "icon," Graham recalled that "just about every Republican voted for her. Similarly, he noted that the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia received even more votes.
The Senate ultimately confirmed Barrett with a vote of 52-48.
Moar: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/lindsey-graham-biden-judicial-nominees