Democrats in the US Senate [official website] filibustered the nomination [Senate materials] of Supreme Court [official website] potential appointee Neil Gorsuch [SCOTUSblog profile] on Thursday. Republicans countered by changing Senate procedure [NYT article] to secure a vote on the nomination. The procedure change, known as the so-called “nuclear option,” will allow the Senate to end the debate and force a vote on the nomination with a simple majority. The original procedure required 60 votes. Out of the 100 seats, Republicans hold 52. This requirement of only a simple majority has the means to change the impartiality of the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court nomination has been subject to tumultuous debate since the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia in February of 2016. Earlier this week the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to endorse [JURIST report] Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court 11-9. Also this week the Court granted certiorari [JURIST report] in two cases, Jesner v. Arab Bank, PLC [docket; cert. peition, PDF] and Ayestas v. Davis [docket; cert. petition, PDF]. In January former President Barrack Obama’s Supreme Court nomination of Judge Merrick Garland expired[JURIST report] following the formal adjournment of the 114th Congress.