Delayed vindication

The long-running battle between Democrats and Republicans over judicial nominations — especially those to the U.S. Supreme Court — has had its Hatfields-and-McCoys moments.  One of those was the Democrats’ filibuster of Miguel Estrada’s nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in 2003. It was the first time a judicial nominee with clear support of a Senate majority was blocked by a filibuster. Republicans haven’t forgotten Estrada’s treatment, and it was interesting to hear current Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan talk about Estrada during her confirmation hearing. Asked by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, whether Estrada should’ve been confirmed, Kagan said she thought so. “You would have voted for him, wouldn’t you have?” Coburn asked. “Yes, I hope I would have anyway,” Kagan replied, adding, “Who knows what it feels like to be one of you guys.” It won’t close the door on Estrada; no past wrong or slight ever is forgotten in a blood feud. But it’s something.

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