A year ago, Stanley Bastian of Wenatchee was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a federal judgeship after an open, bipartisan nominating process. Contrast that with Idaho, where a secretive process to replace U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge is drawing fire for apparently ignoring female candidates. Idaho is the only state in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to never have a woman on the bench. Whether this is blatant discrimination is hard to tell because the process is closed to public scrutiny. As Suzanne Wrass, press secretary for Sen. Jim Risch, told The Spokesman-Review, “The judgeship application process is entirely confidential.” Sen. Mike Crapo’s office said the same. So speculation has replaced information. At least five women have applied for the job, but none of them has heard a peep since submitting applications in December and January/Spokesman-Review Editorial Board. More here.

Question: Why are Sens. Crapo and Risch behaving this way re: this important nomination?