The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10 to 8 along party lines to send the nomination of controversial judicial nominee Bill Myers to the Senate floor.

Tribes and tribal organizations, along with the environmental community, oppose Myers' placement on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. They say he has a pro-industry bias that will influence his decisions on a court that hears a large number of Indian law cases.

Democrats blocked Myers last year through a filibuster but Republicans think they have a shot at confirming him. Both parties are angling for ways to protect their positions.

Get the Story:
GOP Sets 1st Vote on Blocked Nominee (AP 3/18)
pwpwd
Filibuster Precedent? Democrats Point to '68 and Fortas (The Washington Post 3/18)
pwpwd
Disputed Judicial Nominee Clears Senate Panel (The Los Angeles Times 3/18)
pwlat
Split Panel Sends Renominated Candidate to Full Senate (The New York Times 3/18)
pwnyt

Relevant Documents:
Inspector General Letter | NCAI Resolution | Environmental Group's Letter | Holland & Hart Biography

Indianz.Com Profile:
Industry insider named to Interior (March 30, 2001)

From the Indianz.Com Archive:
Myers reversing sacred site opinion (10/25)
Bush nominee has no 'agenda' on Clinton decisions (6/21)

Related Stories:
Quechan Nation blasts Myers for Senate testimony (3/17)
Editorial: Reject Myers for appeals court on merits (3/17)
Democrats vow to shut down Senate on judicial picks (3/16)
Editorial: Myers still 'unworthy' choice for appeals court (03/11)
Salazar urges Bush to withdraw Myers nomination (03/02)
Myers before Senate Judiciary Committee again (3/1)
NCAI renews objection to Bill Myers nomination (2/25)
Probe of Myers role in ranching dispute released (2/23)
Investigation faults role of Bush nominee at Interior (02/16)
Republicans to push Myers for appeals court again (2/15)
Democrats block court nominee on Senate floor (7/21)
Vote set on controversial Bush court nominee (7/20)
Democrats continue to object to Myers nomination (05/19)
Bush nominee opposed by Indian Country advances (04/02)
Tribes blast Bush choice for federal appeals court (03/26)
Tribal leaders to discuss court nominee, budget (03/24)
Tex Hall: Former DOI lawyer bad choice for court (3/8)
Myers advocated giving $1M federal land for free (03/08)
Bush judicial nominee blasted by Democrats (02/06)
Senate committee to take up Bill Myers judgeship (2/3)
Probes clear ex-DOI lawyer seeking judgeship (01/12)
Appeals court nominee favored industry over tribes (12/18)
Interior's top lawyer stepping down next month (10/02)
DOI's top lawyer under ethics investigation (08/15)
Interior has few answers at Senate hearing (7/18)
Tribes push action on sacred sites (3/21)
Interior Solicitor on trust fund crash course (10/17)
Memo: Solicitor's order was 'intimidating' (10/10)
Myers reversing sacred site opinion (10/25)
Bush nominee has no 'agenda' on Clinton decisions (6/21)
Norton confirmed by 'landslide' (1/31)
Babbitt denies Calif. gold mine (1/19)
BLM recommends mine rejection (11/10)