The Byrd Option--II He says the Senate doesn't have to vote on judges, so the GOP should mail it in. Sunday, April 3, 2005 12:01 a.m. EST Robert Byrd is an expert on Senate rules and procedures, on which he has written a four-volume history. So we paid notice when a friend called our attention to the West Virginia Democrat's latest pronouncement on the confirmation of President Bush's judicial nominees.