Choosing Nebraska's next federal judge just got dicier

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20131229/NEWS/131229040/1685#choosing-nebraska-s-next-federal-judge-just-got-dicier

By Joseph Morton Published Sunday, December 29, 2013

WASHINGTON — Recent Senate battles over presidential nominations might seem too “inside baseball,” but all that contentious partisan wrangling could affect who becomes Nebraska's next federal judge and when that person is able to don the robe.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon has announced his intention to take senior status in October 2014, a move that will create a vacancy on the bench.

Although Democrats control the White House, and both of Nebraska's senators — Mike Johanns and Deb Fischer — are Republicans, home-state senators generally receive great deference in the selection of district judges.

In the Senate, both senators from a state traditionally must provide their assent in the form of a “blue slip” in order for a nominee to move forward.

FULL story at link.

[yeoman6987]

1. Old way

Had Republicans been right about judges from the beginning, I could see the Democrats giving Republicans a bone for Nebraska. Heck no! Now put in the most liberal judge Nebraska has! Republicans deserve that!