The nuclear option and its fallout - The Senate Democrats’ move last year to eliminate filibusters on most nominations — it now takes only a simple majority to confirm — has helped President Obama dramatically increase his impact on the federal judiciary for years to come.

From The Washington Post:

The Senate Democrats’ move last year to eliminate filibusters on most nominations — it now takes only a simple majority to confirm — has helped President Obama dramatically increase his impact on the federal judiciary for years to come.

Obama, approaching the end of his sixth year in office, is on track to put 305 judges on the federal bench — 252 on district (trial) courts and 53 on appeals courts. At this point, he’s well ahead of George W. Bush’s 256 total appointments at the six-year mark and close to Bush’s final total of 324 appointees. He’s just six behind Bill Clinton’s six-year total.

But in January, Obama will, for the first time in his presidency, face a Republican-controlled Senate. And the GOP rancor sparked by the Democrats’ November 2013 rule change — known as the “nuclear option” — could well limit future confirmations. In addition, a bipartisan deal struck in 2013 that greatly shortened the amount of debate required for judicial nominees is set to expire next year.