Grassley Drills Into Democrats for Bad-Faith Obstruction of Blue Slips

Prepared Opening Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
Executive Business Meeting
Thursday, June 18, 2026

Good morning. On today's agenda, we have eight nominations and three bills.

We'll vote on two circuit court nominees: Benjamin Flowers, for the Sixth Circuit; and Matthew Schwartz, for the Second Circuit.

We'll vote on four district court nominees: Michael Hendershot, for the Northern District of Ohio; Arthur Jones, for the Southern District of Texas; Jeffrey Kuntz, for the Southern District of Florida; and John Marck, for the Southern District of Texas.

We'll also vote on Don Berthiaume to serve as Inspector General for the Justice Department.

And we'll vote on Sean Costello to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama.

Lastly, we'll vote on three bills: S.1133, the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2025; S.1146, the Cameras in the Courtroom Act; and S.4591, the NO FAKES Act of 2026.

The six judicial nominees on today's agenda are highly qualified. They each have strong credentials and a longstanding commitment to the rule of law. They're going to make fine federal judges. Our other nominees are exceptional as well. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting their nominations.

We're also voting on two bills, which I and Ranking Member Durbin reintroduced this Congress. They'd permit television coverage of federal court proceedings. They're important for transparency in our justice system. These bills would help inform Americans on matters of significant interest, and they'd build public trust in the fairness and impartiality of our judiciary. I'll leave it at that for now, but I'll have more to say about these bills and their cosponsors when I call them up for a vote.

Our third bill, NO FAKES, is the result of a lot of hard work by Senator Blackburn and Senator Coons. This legislation takes an important step towards protecting individuals from exploitation by others using AI-generated digital replicas of themselves.

However, before we turn to the votes, I'd like to say a few words about blue slips.

As I said at last week's hearing, senators tell me they want to retain the blue slip practice, but very often their conduct is destructive to the very institution they claim to want to protect. The practice is becoming more untenable as senators fail to work with the White House in good faith to secure district court and U.S. Attorney nominees.

This week, President Trump announced that he wouldn't proceed with a new Director of National Intelligence or approve FISA until he gets a new U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York. For more than a year, Senator Schumer refused to return a blue slip or consider the highly qualified nominee that the President put forth. Senator Schumer has also refused to consider any nominee for other U.S. Attorney and district court seats in New York. In fact, Senator Schumer refused to even meet with the Administration to find a path forward. He's never responded to their proposals or negotiated any of these vacancies.

This isn't sustainable. This isn't good faith. Democrats expect Republicans to adhere to precedent and norms while undermining them at every turn.

During the first Trump and the Biden administrations, senators from the opposing party returned hundreds of blue slips for district court and U.S. Attorney nominees. But during President Trump's second term, they've been few and far between.

And let's not forget that - for the first time in recorded history - Senate Democrats still haven't allowed a single civilian nominee to be confirmed by voice vote and unanimous consent. In doing so, Senate Democrats wasted valuable floor time that could've been used to address the needs of the American people, and they've forced Senate Republicans to move nominees through en bloc packages.

I know some of my colleagues, including some on this Committee, have worked with the White House to fill vacancies. I know some others have tried. I thank those who have engaged in good faith and urge them to continue their efforts. If I can be helpful to resolve an impasse, I'm happy to try.

Our Senate practices and norms will only survive if there's good faith on all sides. I'm urging all my Democratic colleagues in the Senate to put an end to the obstruction. If the blue slip practice is going to continue - as so many of my colleagues have insisted - Senate Democrats must stop bad-faith obstruction, and they must stop it now!

Now I'll turn to Senator Whitehouse for his remarks.

-30-

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Post