President Donald Trump has railed against Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for maintaining the customary use of blue slips in judicial nominations. Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has backed and advocated the continued use of blue slips.

Lawmakers have long abided by the practice as a mechanism for giving senators a say on judicial nominees for their home states, but blue slips have a checkered past — and critics say they are ripe for abuse.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Wednesday rejected President Donald Trump’s call to disregard a Senate tradition to expedite the confirmations of his US attorney and federal judge nominees.