Final answer:
Judicial nominees require a majority vote in the Senate to be confirmed after a rigorous vetting process. This process can involve political maneuvering, and while most are confirmed, some are blocked or rejected due to various reasons such as controversy or lack of support.
Step-by-step explanation:
To win Senate confirmation, judicial nominees generally need the support of a majority of senators. The confirmation process begins with the nomination by the president, often in consultation with lists maintained by organizations such as the American Bar Association. Once nominated, the judicial candidate is vetted and debated by the Senate Judiciary Committee. After which, a committee vote will take place; a successful vote leads to a full Senate vote. A majority in this vote is requisite for the nominee to be confirmed and subsequently sworn into office.
However, this process is often more complex and politically charged, with senators using confirmation hearings to pursue their own interests, such as quizzing nominees on topics of relevance to their states, ensuring accountability, and extracting policy promises. Subcabinet officials and lower court judges, who lack the profile of cabinet or Supreme Court nominees, might see their confirmation processes delayed.
Nominations can also be blocked or stalled by senators through various means, such as not scheduling a vote, or vocal opposition, especially from senators who are from the same state as the nominee and share a political party with the president. On occasions, controversial issues or personal indiscretions related to a nominee can lead to rejections by the Senate or withdrawals of the nomination.
Throughout history, most nominees are eventually confirmed, but the Senate has, on occasion, used its constitutional role of 'advice and consent' to scrutinize and sometimes reject nominees. In cases like Supreme Court appointments, the Senate may delve deeply into the nominees' beliefs and character.