Overview

• Trump said Monday he would likely file a lawsuit to challenge the Senate’s blue-slip practice, calling it unconstitutional and an obstacle to his judges and U.S. attorney picks.
• Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley countered that nominees without home-state blue slips do not have the votes to pass committee or win confirmation, noting Republicans used the process to block 30 Biden-era picks.
• GOP leaders including John Thune and Thom Tillis signaled resistance to scrapping blue slips, with Tillis pledging to vote against nominees who lack home-state support.
• The clash escalated after U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann ruled last week that Alina Habba had been unlawfully serving as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey beyond the 120-day interim limit.
• Habba’s nomination was withdrawn in July after Democratic Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim opposed her, underscoring how the century-old, nonbinding practice influences district-court and U.S. attorney nominations.