Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat of California, has returned to the Senate after being absent for nearly three months due to health issues. Her prolonged absence, caused by the shingles virus, worried Democrats who feared her absence would hinder their ability to confirm President Biden's Cabinet and judicial nominees. Feinstein's absence was also keenly felt in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Democrats needed at least one Republican vote to advance Biden's judicial nominations. Her absence meant the Democrats were short of that one crucial vote. Despite concerns about her health and ability to serve, Feinstein defended her absence and said that there was "no slowdown" of judicial confirmations and that she plans to finish her term. Her return to the chamber will restore a Democratic majority to the Judiciary Committee, where Democrats were becoming increasingly concerned about their limited ability to move forward with judicial nominations. However, her return also reignites debates about her suitability to serve and her ability to fulfill her duties.