I hope that you enjoy my new Confirmation Tales post, “William Pryor Takes Tortuous Path to Eleventh Circuit: His shocking testimony guarantees Democratic filibuster.” Here’s how it opens:

William H. Pryor Jr. has been a conservative stalwart on the Eleventh Circuit for more than two decades and is now its chief judge. It’s easy to forget how difficult it was for him to get on the court in the first place—and how much he ultimately benefited from Senate Democrats’ efforts at obstruction.
Pryor took an unusually tortuous path to the Eleventh Circuit. In early 2001, he declined the opportunity to be nominated by George W. Bush to a seat on that court. Two years later, when that same seat still remained open, Bush nominated him to it, but Democrats filibustered his nomination. In an act of dubious constitutionality (in which I might well have played a role), Bush recess-appointed him to the seat in February 2004. In late May 2005, the Gang of 14 Agreement ensured that he would receive a floor vote on his nomination. Two weeks later, he was confirmed to a lifetime position by a narrow vote of 53 to 45.

Pryor’s confirmation battle was so momentous that I will need at least one more post to complete my account of it.

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