[JURIST] The future of a work-in-progress bill to provide $140 billion in asbestos compensation [JURIST report; Asbestos Alliance advocacy website] was threatened Tuesday by a looming battle between Republicans and Democrats over judicial nominations. Senators moved a Wednesday Senate Judiciary Committee business committee meeting [cancellation notice] on the subject to Thurday of this week because of intense debates over the nominees expected to take place then. Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy [official website], a co-sponsor of the bill and the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said that if Republicans resorted to the so-called "nuclear option" and banned filibusters over judicial nominees then the controversial asbestos bill [Asbestos Network anti-bill advocacy website] would likely be doomed. Democrats have threatened to slow or stop any bills moving through the Senate if the "nuclear option" is used. Reuters has more.