May 21, 2013
Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee for a seat on the Atlanta-based U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Today's vote was 10-9, with all ten Republicans voting for him and all nine Democrats voting against him under protest.
Democrats objected to the vote, saying Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah, rushed the confirmation vote before they could finish an investigation into Pryor's fund-raising activities for a GOP attorneys general group. Hatch overruled the objection and forced the vote.
Pryor's candidacy must now be voted on by the full Senate. It was not immediately known when Pryor's nomination will be voted on, although Senate Republican leaders indicated this week that they may bring him up before leaving for their month-long August recess.
On the Net: Senate Judiciary Committee: http://judiciary.senate.gov
