Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, who sits on the Judiciary Committee, said he’s “not a big fan of the ABA. … It’s blatantly political. Often. Not always.”
Credit: John Shinkle/POLITICO

Senate Republicans have declared war on the American Bar Association.

Since 1953, the venerable legal organization has played a critical, behind-the-scenes role in assessing judicial nominees and their fitness to serve on the bench.

But with the ABA emerging as a major stumbling block in President Donald Trump’s effort to transform the courts, the GOP is accusing the non-partisan group of holding a liberal slant and is seeking to sideline it.

The ABA has deemed at least four of Trump’s judicial nominees “not qualified” — a high number, although other administrations evaluated candidates privately before they were nominated. Democrats warn of dire consequences of ignoring the group’s evaluations. But Republicans are intent on a dramatic reshaping of the federal judiciary that could last for decades and so far, haven’t been persuaded by the ABA’s ratings.

As the Senate prepares this week to confirm one appellate nominee […]