Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) used the "nuclear option" to eliminate the free and open debate of judicial nominations.
Harry Reid did this because he knows Republican Leader Mitch McConnell will let him get away with it.
The only way to deter a nuclear attack is to make it clear that the response will be equally devastating. Unfortunately, weakness is the only message McConnell has sent the Democrats on this issue.
This was done because the Republicans (most of them) in office right now are scared of the big bully, Obama. And Harry Reid knows that the bully will back him. That is why Eric Holder can get away with so much including lying under oath to Congress.