Judicial Confirmation Pace Slow With Slimmer Democratic Edge (1)

Former federal prosecutor Orelia Merchant was narrowly confirmed to a Brooklyn-based federal trial court as Senate Democrats try to continue advancing judicial nominees with a smaller majority present.

The Senate confirmed Merchant, an attorney in the New York Attorney General’s state counsel division, on Wednesday, 51-48, to the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was the only Republican to vote in favor.

Four nominees have been confirmed to trial and appellate courts since the Senate returned from recess in mid-April. The health-related absences of John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) disrupted ...