In seeking to ensure a Judiciary Committee that is more friendly to President Bush’s nominees, I would argue conservatives should pay attention to the party balance on the committee.A 55-44 Senate majority is ample justification for shifting the committee balance from 10-9 to 11-8. If there is a contested nomination, this change could be more important than having a different Chairman. If Senator Specter were to vote against a nominee, that nominee would fail in committee no matter who is Chairman. Yet if the committee were 11-8, such a defection would not stop committee approval of a contested nominee.