Sissel v. HHS (the origination clause case) has been slated for oral argument on May 8. It will be heard by a nuclear option panel: Judges Rogers, Pillard, and Wilkins. Pillard and Wilkins were confirmed only after the Senate invoked the nuclear option.

By the way, since the nuclear option was invoked for the three D.C. Circuit nominees on November 21, exactly 4 months ago, has there been a single other instance where Senate Majority leader Reid has hit the trigger ? Of course not. In fact, several Circuit nominees have continued to stall and linger. The reason for the nuclear option was never a judicial emergency, but a political need.

It was to get certain judges onto the D.C. Circuit in particular, to hear appeals just like this about Obamacare. And now, it seems, it worked.