Bush and Trump also stopped providing the bar association with the names of individuals being considered for nomination. That way, it renders its opinion on potential judges at the same time as everyone else—after nomination.

It’s reasonable to infer that if the ABA’s “not qualified” rating matters, then so does its “well qualified” rating. Well, tell that to Senate Democrats.

This year alone, the Senate has confirmed 13 of Trump’s appeals court nominees, nine of them with “well qualified” bar association ratings. Those nominees, the ones with the highest ratings, received an average of 42 Senate votes against confirmation.

VanDyke’s treatment shows how much the ABA has changed. The lead evaluator contributed to VanDyke’s opponent in a race for the Montana Supreme Court. The letter about his “not qualified” rating painted a disparaging picture, based solely on unidentified “assessments of interviewees” and unattributed “comments.”

That’s exactly what Blumenthal, now a senator, had criticized in 2006 and what actually brought VanDyke to tears during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday.

The Hill ✔@thehill

"It is a fundamental belief of mine that all people are created in the image of God, and they should all be treated with dignity and respect."

WATCH: Judicial nominee Lawrence VanDyke breaks down amid question about attitude towards LGBT people http://hill.cm/RFbQkqm

The American Bar Association long ago gave away its claim to be a nonpolitical association focused on the legal profession. That reputation is not coming back. Nor is any compelling reason to take its ratings seriously.