Have Republicans really obstructed President Obama's nominees to the federal courts of appeals to an unprecedented degree, as we so often hear?

No, says a study from the Democrat-leaning Brookings Institution.  The confirmation rate for Obama nominees is about the same as in prior administrations.  The percentage of Democrat-nominee circuit judges in total is up from 39% at the start of the Administration to 49%.

Todd Ruger has this post at BLT.