Obama's judges

This month's issue of Judicature, the official publication of the American Judicature Society, contains an extensive (40+ pages) analysis of President Obama's appointments to the federal judiciary:  Sheldon Goldman, Elliot Slotnick & Sara Schiavoni, Obama's judiciary at midterm: The confirmation drama continues, 94 Judicature 262 (May-June 2011).

The article is not available without a subscription, but federal court wonks should be sure to read it. The article substantiates the amateur observer's impression that nominations and confirmations have not been a legislative priority of either of the political branches.  The authors' own blurb says: "Barack Obama's stunning achievement of promoting gender, ethnic, and racial diversity on the federal bench, including two Supreme Court appointments, is counterbalanced by a slow and problematic nominations process and partisan obstructionism resulting in relatively small numbers of confirmations."