In order to be confirmed to a lifetime appointment on the federal bench, all district and circuit court nominees must appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a confirmation hearing. Despite their relatively low profile, these lower court judges make up 99 percent of permanent federal judgeships and decide cases that relate to a wide variety of policy areas. To uncover why senators hold confirmation hearings for lower federal court nominees and the value of these proceedings more generally, the authors analyzed transcripts for all district and circuit court confirmation hearings between 1993 and 2012, the largest systematic analysis of lower court confirmation hearings to date. The book finds that the time-consuming practice of confirmation hearings for district and circuit court nominees provides an important venue for senators to advocate on behalf of their policy preferences and bolster their chances of being re-elected. The wide variation in lower court nominees’ experiences before the Judiciary Committee exists because senators pursue these goals in different ways, depending on the level of controversy surrounding a nominee. Ultimately, the findings inform a (re)assessment of the role hearings play in ensuring quality judges, providing advice and consent, and advancing the democratic values of transparency and accountability.

Committee Serial No. 58. Considers miscellaneous legislation relating to military property acquisition or disposal, construction projects, admissions to military academies, and unauthorized wearing, manufacture, or sale of medals and badges.

Committee Serial No. 204. Considers legislation on the restoration of Lt. Cmdr. Edwin M. Rosenberg, retired, to the active list of the Navy, the salaries of CIA employees, and the family allowances of military dependents.

Committee Serial No. 35. Considers legislation to facilitate the appointment of General John S. Bragdon to the White House staff.