Senate Judiciary Committee gives nod to Pryor nomination News
Senate Judiciary Committee gives nod to Pryor nomination

[JURIST] The US Senate Judiciary Committee [official website] approved the nomination of William Pryor [DOJ profile] for the US Court of Appeals by a 10-8 party line vote Thursday. Pryor has a temporary place on the US Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals under a recess appointment [JURIST report] made after his nomination failed to pass the committee last year, but he will have to win a full Senate vote to permanently hold the seat. Democrats filibustered Pryor and other Bush nominees during his first term and have threatened to continue the practice. Democrats and activist groups like People for the American Way [advocacy website] contend that Pryor's views on abortion and gay rights would prevent him from being an impartial judge [PFAW press release]. President Bush has repeatedly called for an up-or-down Senate vote [JURIST report] on his judicial nominees, and Republicans have threatened to ban judicial nominee filibusters [JURIST report]. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has said that he expects that a showdown over judicial nominees could begin as soon as next week [JURIST report]. AP has more.