After the Senate voted to require only a simple majority, rather than 60 votes, to overcome filibusters on executive branch and judicial nominees, other than for the Supreme Court, even some liberal legal activists were shocked that Senate Democrats went through with the long-threatened change.

“It’s insane,” said Doug Kendall, president of the liberal Constitutional Accountability Center. He praised Reid’s decision as a needed step, but also acknowledged it is likely to bring about a stark shift in the way the Senate evaluates and confirms new judges in the future.

“I certainly think that this precedent will be used in the future by both parties and it will effectively mean that the Senate becomes a lot more like the House,” Kendall added.