Washington, D.C.—People For the American Way released the following statement today from PFAW Executive Vice President Marge Baker in response to Senate Republicans voting in the Rules Committee to reduce debate time for federal district court nominees.

“Senate Republicans have demonstrated repeatedly that they will do anything to cram onto the federal bench as many narrow-minded elitists as possible. Now they’re attacking the idea that judicial nominees should be subject to any semblance of adequate debate time. Republicans have decided they should only spare two hours of debate on lifetime nominees to the federal courts—down from 30 hours. Contrary to Republican claims of Democratic obstruction, the Senate GOP is bulldozing Trump’s nominees through the process. It’s clear that Republicans aren’t taking their responsibilities under the Constitution seriously, and they could not care less about assuring the American people qualified judges will preside over our courts.”