Chief Justice laments 'fiscal cliff ' effects on federal courts . Nominees include one whose selection was blocked twice already in Senate . Judiciary Committee chair urges Senate to stop speeding up nominations . Republicans blamed for slow nominees , but White House said too slow . Democrats say unfilled vacancies cause crisis in court staffed by too few judges .
Nominees include one whose selection was blocked twice already in Senate . Judiciary Committee chair urges Senate to stop speeding up nominations . Republicans blamed for slow nominees , but White House said too slow . Democrats say unfilled vacancies cause crisis in court staffed by too few judges .