Final answer:
The Senate can delay or defeat a judicial nominee through filibustering, not holding hearings, delaying committee votes, or employing the nuclear option.
Step-by-step explanation:
A way that the Senate can delay or defeat a judicial nominee is through various political maneuvers such as the use of the filibuster, not scheduling a vote in committee, or outright refusing to hold hearings, a tactic referred to as malign neglect.
During the Obama administration, for instance, the Senate, led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, delayed the appointment of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court by not holding hearings, thus letting the nomination expire. Additionally, the Senate may utilize the nuclear option, which allows a simple majority vote to break a filibuster and proceed with a nomination, as was done in the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch.
These tactics are often employed as part of a broader political strategy, which can include obstructing presidential nominations to protest policies or due to partisan conflict between the Senate and the President.