COURTS/MITCH MCCONNELL/OBAMA/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Donald Trump clinched their 50th circuit court judge in just three years on Wednesday [12-11-19], only five short of President Barack Obama’s record over an eight-year period. And McConnell isn’t done yet. Now that he’s filled virtually every vacancy in the powerful appellate court system, the Senate majority leader will try and cram through 18 lower-level lifetime judges next week, some of them supported by Democrats…McConnell is particularly eager to accomplish another quick judicial spree because anyone not confirmed will have to start the confirmation process all over again next year. With the holiday recess looming, there isn’t time to confirm all 18 nominees without cooperation from the Democrats — who are loath to strike a deal with the man who’s been steamrolling them on judges in the five years since he became majority leader.”
-Burgess Everett, “Trump tightens grips on judges as McConnell wins 50th Circuit pick,” Politico, December 12, 2019 5:03 am