Court Picks Face Trickier Path as Senate Eyes Red-State Judges

The Senate Democrats’ pace of muscling through judicial confirmations may slow down as the chamber pivots to more controversial nominees and vacancies where Republicans can throw up roadblocks.

Until recently, Democratic leadership was able to confirm President Joe Biden’s nominees at a rapid clip largely because they came from more Democratic states or were consensus picks.

These days Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is expending more floor time on nominees that squeak through on party-line votes, while senior senators and the White House are engaged in negotiations over vacancies in GOP strongholds in the South.

“The number of ...