Republican obstructionism is causing a crisis in the federal judiciary system.
Republicans have been passionate and unbending in their mission to frustrate President Obama and his agenda, and a recent report by the Congressional Research Service found that even though he had a Democratic majority in the Senate during his first term in office, Obama's judicial nominees faced long, difficult confirmation processes, higher than the other four previous presidents.
Saturday on Melissa Harris-Perry, the host and her guests discussed why it has been so difficult for the president to see his nominees confirmed. It may not be as high-profile as gun control or immigration, but the continuing failure of the Obama administration to fill vacancies in federal courts have had devastating real life consequences: fewer judges mean longer waits to deal with even routine legal matters, and 40% of federal courts are so far behind thanks to these empty seats that they are now considered "judicial emergencies."
Watch what the guests had to say, and tune into msnbc on Sunday at 10 AM ET for another edition of "Melissa Harris-Perry."