Graham calls for judges to take senior status so Republicans can confirm more judges

Sen. Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Thursday called for eligible judges to take a semi-retirement status so that Republicans can add to their appointees on the federal bench. 

The South Carolina Republican made the request during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

The judges declaring this semi-retirement status would purportedly open up their seat. 

"So if you’re a circuit judge in your mid-60s, late 60s, you can take senior status," Graham said. "Now would be a good time to do that, if you want to make sure the judiciary is right of center. This is a good time to do it."

The GOP-controlled Senate has made a priority of trying to appoint as many judges as possible to the federal bench, with a Republican president and a Democrat-controlled House with a much different legislative agenda.

When Hewitt asked Graham if he could guarantee that any successors would be confirmed prior to the election, Graham called for the judges to make the move immediately.

"Well, if you wait, you know, November the 1st, no," he said. "So do it now."