Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) intends to file cloture Thursday on two of President Barack Obama’s nominees to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, according to an aide.
The move escalates the fight over judicial nominations by setting up back-to-back procedural votes next Tuesday on Cornelia Pillard and Robert Wilkins. Both require 60 votes.
Republicans filibustered a vote on Patricia Millett to the court last week. They’ve threatened to filibuster the other two nominees, as well. If they follow through, it would put Reid in a difficult position, potentially compelling him to consider changing the rules to scale back the filibuster for judges, which he opened the door to this week.
Reid misspoke earlier when he told reporters he was going to file cloture on Tuesday night.
