Senate Republicans staged a five-month filibuster in 2011-12 against Jesse Furman, whom President Obama had nominated as a New York-based trial judge. They didn’t question his qualifications but objected to his past writings, including a piece titled “Bang, Bang, You’re Dead! The NRA Supplied the Lead!” During his confirmation hearing, Mr. Furman said: “I wrote those words as an 18-year-old with no legal experience or training and, frankly, spoke with more confidence than was warranted.” The Senate eventually confirmed him.
Now...