Trump to sue over Senate's blue slip tradition that blocks judicial nominees

President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that he will be filing a lawsuit over the Senate's century-old "blue slip" tradition that allows senators to hold up certain judicial nominees.

The "blue slip" practice allows home-state senators to veto nominees to district courts and U.S. attorneys' offices. The Senate Judiciary Committee's chairmen have traditionally not proceeded with federal district-level judicial and prosecutorial nominees unless both senators who represent those areas return blue-slip documents, signing off on the nominees.

Trump made the announcement during a signing ceremony at the White House, where he signed an executive order on the elimination of cashless bail policies, per Fox News.

"We're also going to be filing a lawsuit on blue slipping," Trump said. "You know, blue slips make it impossible for me as president to appoint a judge or a U.S. attorney because they have a gentlemen's agreement that's about 100 years old.

"If you have a president like a Republican, and if you have a Democrat senator, that senator can stop you from appointing a judge or a U.S. attorney in particular," he added.

The president's announcement of the upcoming lawsuit comes while the Senate is behind on confirming his U.S. attorneys and federal judge nominees. Trump recently had to withdraw Alina Habba's nominee for U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, after both Democratic senators from the state opposed her nomination.

Trump also criticized Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley on Sunday for not overturning the tradition and allowing his nominees to move forward.

"Chuck Grassley should allow strong Republican candidates to ascend to these very vital and powerful roles, and tell the Democrats, as they often tell us, to go to HELL," he posted on Truth Social.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.