Grassley defies Trump demand to scrap Senate ‘blue slips’ for judicial picks

Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is once again facing off against President Donald Trump over the Senate’s longstanding blue slip tradition. The blue slip allows Senate Republicans and Democrats to veto district court and U.S. attorney nominees in their home states.

Grassley, in response to Trump’s demand to do away with the blue slip, argued that without it, none of Trump’s nominees would be able to pass through the Senate. He emphasized that his role as chairman is to set nominees up for success, not failure.

Trump, on the other hand, believes that it is his constitutional right to appoint judges and U.S. attorneys, and feels that the blue slip tradition is preventing him from doing so in states with Democratic senators.

Senate Democrats have utilized the blue slip tradition to block some of Trump’s nominees this year, adding to the backlog of nominations awaiting confirmation. Trump has criticized Grassley for not overturning the tradition and allowing strong Republican candidates to ascend to these important roles.

The ongoing feud between Trump and Grassley highlights the challenges in confirming judicial nominees in a politically divided Senate. With Republicans and Democrats failing to reach a deal on nominations before leaving for August recess, finding a pathway forward will be a top priority when they return after Labor Day.

As the debate over the blue slip tradition continues, the Senate Judiciary Committee remains at the center of the confirmation process. Grassley’s steadfast defense of the tradition, in the face of pressure from the president, underscores the importance of Senate tradition in shaping the judicial landscape.

Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.