{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221182700/http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-republican-obstruction-of-dc-circuit-court-nominees", "Blumenthal Statement On Republican Obstruction Of D.C. Circuit Court Nominees", "2013-11-18", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Republicans Have Blocked Consideration Of Four Nominees To Serve On What Some Consider Nation\u2019s Second Highest Bench\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, November 18, 2013\n\t\t\t(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked the nomination of Robert L. Wilkins to the D.C. Circuit Court, preventing a yes-or-no vote on his nomination. Wilkins is the fourth nominee Senate Republicans have prevented from receiving an up-or-down vote by using procedural hurdles. Republicans previously blocked the nominations of Caitlin Halligan, Patricia Millett, and Nina Pillard.\n\u201cA major Senate rule change is apparently the only recourse left to stop extreme filibuster abuse, which today blocked yet another indisputably qualified nominee from service on the D.C. Circuit Court. This vote marks a tragic turning point. Misuse of rules \u2013 involving petty, partisan politics beneath the Senate \u2013 is a disgraceful disservice to our nation\u2019s justice system. Rejecting nominees of extraordinary intellect and integrity to fill much needed judgeships does damage to our country, the courts, and the Congress. \u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tJosh Zembik \u2013 202-224-6452 Josh_Zembik@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221182700/http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-republican-obstruction-of-dc-circuit-court-nominees"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8273089770227671, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}