Professor Bill Banks on the news that the senate has changed the rules of filibustering Supreme Court nominees

Thursday, April 6, 2017, By Ellen Mbuqe

Professor of Law William Banks offered commentary on the news that the Senate has changed rules on filibustering Supreme Court nominations, thus bypassing any planned filibustering of Judge Neil Gorsuch.

“The Senate (like the House) retains the power to establish the rules for governing their proceedings, so it is fully within the authority of the Senate to bar filibusters. The change is an unfortunate reflection of the times we live in. Bipartisanship has all but vanished, and our democratic institutions will battle on this Supreme Court nomination and so much else based on heavily partisan positions.

The change portends less compromise and more purely partisan outcomes.

Professor William Banks

The change in voting for Supreme Court nominees could, of course, lead to rolling back the filibuster for any and all other matters brought before the Senate.”