Presidential judicial appointments - the real numbers

Federal judges confirmed for last five presidents
(Sources: Congressional Research Service, Senate judiciary majority and minority staff.)

Jimmy Carter, 1977-1981
District court ....... Circuit court ............ Total
228 nominated ...... 61 nominated ........ 289
206 confirmed ...... 56 confirmed ........ 262
90.4% .......... 91%.......... 90.7%

Ronald Reagan, 1981-1989
District court ...... Circuit court ........... Total
336 nominated ....... 102 nominated ....... 438
292 confirmed ...... 83 confirmed ......... 375
86.9% .......... 81.4% .......... 85.6%

George H.W. Bush, 1989-1993
District court ...... Circuit court ........... Total
199 nominated ........ 54 nominated ........ 253
150 confirmed ........ 42 confirmed ........ 192
75.4% .......... 77.8% .......... 75.9%

Bill Clinton, 1993-2001
District court ...... Circuit court ........... Total
382 nominated ........ 106 nominated ....... 488
307 confirmed ....... 65 confirmed ......... 372
80.4% .......... 61.3% .......... 76.2%

George W. Bush, 2001-2005
District court ...... Circuit court ............ Total
177 nominated ....... 52 nominated ........ 229
168 confirmed ....... 35 confirmed ......... 203
94.9% .......... 67.3% .......... 88.6%

Hmmm. Well, first of all, it looks like Jimmy Carter was a busy little beaver during his four altogether forgettable years in the White House. When he wasn't busy lusting after women in his heart, fending off attacks by killer rabbits, trying to have Billy committed and sending good men on suicide missions into the Iranian desert, he was appointing judges. 551 judges in only four years. Man, that's a lot of judgeships. Looks like Dubya is just trying to undo the damage.

Secondly, the most interesting number in this data is the very low - 67.3% - approval rating for the Circuit Court judges that Bush II enjoys. However, it is still better than Clinton's. All of the Bush II numbers are better than Clinton's.

Someone with more political acumen than I will have to explain to me what all the screaming has been about. Is this all just preparations for the "big one" (or two or three), SCOTUS?

Linked to: The Captain
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