Senator Leahy issued a press release yesterday pledging action on the confirmations of various nominees. Of particular note:
Senate Republicans have objected to time agreements to debate and vote on pending noncontroversial nominations. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) filed cloture, a procedural motion to bring to an end debate on a pending matter, on five nominations, including two judicial nominations and one nomination to fill a high-level vacancy at the Department of Justice. The Senate is expected to vote later this week on the nominations of Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie to fill a vacancy on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and Judge Denny Chin to fill a vacancy on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as the nomination of Christopher Schroeder to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy.
I checked the Congressional Record. Reid filed the cloture motion on April 15, and the Senate started debate on the five nominations yesterday.
UPDATE: From the Wednesday, April 21 Senate Executive Calendar:
Ordered further, That following morning business on Thursday, April 22, 2010, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the nomination of Denny Chin, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; that there be 60 minutes for debate with respect to the nomination, that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination; that upon confirmation, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; with the cloture motion withdrawn; and the President be immediately notified of the Senate’s action with respect to the above referenced nominations; with all time covered under this agreement equally divided and controlled between the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Leahy) and the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Sessions).