Jeffrey Toobin: D.C. judges can't tell president what other judges he can appoint

Julian Zelizer : Those challenging Trump administration policies have sought to bring their cases before D.C. federal judges.

Zelizer says those who want to serve as a judge on the district’s “local” courts must apply to a statutorily mandated “ Judicial Nominating Commission ” He says the current system has loaded the dice to make it impossible for any constitutionally conservative judge to get onto the bench.

Two vacancies on D.C. ’s highest appellate court and twelve vacancies on trial court.

Unease about the system has slowed the confirmation process.

The courts could use the help of these additional judges to move through the backlog of existing cases and the additional cases — often involving those accused of committing violent crimes — that will be brought.