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\n Republicans on Tuesday formally blocked a request from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee, something Democrats hoped to do in order to advance stalled judicial nominations. <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n \n Senate Democrats are seeking to temporarily replace Feinstein on the powerful panel that processes judicial nominees as the California Democrat remains absent, recovering from shingles.\n <\/p>\n \n Senate Republicans, however, have made clear that they have been prepared to block Democratic efforts to replace Feinstein on the committee, ratcheting up pressure on the 89-year-old California Democrat to resign or return quickly.\n <\/p>\n \n Feinstein\u2019s return date is still unclear and she asked just last week<\/a> to be \u201ctemporarily\u201d replaced on the committee as she recovers.\n <\/p>\n \n Schumer introduced his motion on Tuesday by talking about his friendship with Feinstein, and highlighting her accomplishments.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cToday, I am acting not just as Leader but as Dianne\u2019s friend, in honoring her wishes, until she returns to the Senate,\u201d Schumer said.\n <\/p>\n \n GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, objected to Schumer\u2019s request, though he also praised the California Democrat. He argued that Schumer\u2019s move is to get more judges confirmed.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cShe\u2019s a dear friend and we hope for her speedy recovery and return back to the Senate. With all due respect, my colleague, Senator Schumer, this is about a handful of judges that you can\u2019t get the votes for,\u201d Graham said.\n <\/p>\n \n Democrats could still force a vote to replace the Feinstein, but that would require the support of 10 Republicans and it\u2019s unlikely they would use a lot of valuable floor time for something with little chance of success.\n <\/p>\n \n Feinstein, who has already announced she\u2019s not seeking reelection, initially said she expected to return to Washington \u201cby the end of the March work period,\u201d but that her return got \u201cdelayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n She recently said she plans to return \u201cas soon as possible once my medical team advises that it\u2019s safe for me to travel.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Cardin told CNN Tuesday he had discussed with Schumer being the temporary replacement on the committee but that he had not discussed the decision with Feinstein.\n <\/p>\n \n The Maryland Democrat said he and Feinstein have not spoken since she\u2019s been out of the Senate and that it is his understanding that this is only a temporary move until she returns.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cI recognize the importance of the numbers on the committee, and this way we can be able to conduct business. I look at this as a way of dealing with a current situation,\u201d Cardin said.\n <\/p>\n \n Democrats would need 60 votes to replace Feinstein<\/a> on the panel, but senior Republicans in leadership and on the committee made clear Monday that they would not give them the votes to do that. If Feinstein does not return soon, at least 12 nominees, or possibly even more, could be stalled.\n <\/p>\n \n If Democrats are unable to replace Feinstein or if she does not return to Washington soon, they could see key agenda items thwarted \u2013 both on the committee and on the Senate floor.\n <\/p>\n \n Asked if the California Democrat should consider resigning if she can\u2019t return by May, Schumer responded that he\u2019s \u201chopeful\u201d she will return \u201cvery soon.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cLook, I spoke to Senator Feinstein just a few days ago and she and I are both very hopeful that she will return very soon,\u201d Schumer said at his weekly policy press conference in the US Capitol.\n <\/p>\n