A nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit faced tough questions from Republican senators at her nomination hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, but with the future of the chamber looking bright for Democrat control, it appeared there could be smooth sailing for President Joe Biden’s nominees, once the new Congress gavels in next year.

Tuesday’s circuit nominee, DeAndrea G. Benjamin, who’s served on several South Carolina benches, including Columbia City and the state’s Circuit Court bench, was grilled about her decision in a bond hearing for Albertus Lewis, who’s facing charges of attempted murder following his release. Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, all pointed to the case as an issue with her nomination for the powerful appeals court.