The Senate voted 55 to 43 on Wednesday to confirm Texas judge Priscilla R. Owen to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Owen is the first judge to receive an up-or-down vote under a compromise reached by a bipartisan group of senators. Two more nominees -- former Alabama attorney general William Pryor Jr. for the 11th Circuit and California judge Janice Rogers Brown for the D.C. Circuit -- will also receive votes.
Still in limbo is Bill Myers, the Interior Department's former solicitor who has been nominated for a seat on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. He was not included in the Senate deal.
For Owen, the 5th Circuit hears cases affecting tribes in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. It has ruled that Texas tribes gave up their sovereign rights to engage in gaming when they received federal recognition. It also ruled that Texas tribes can be sued for allegedly violating state laws.
Get the Story:Priscilla Owen Confirmed as Federal Judge (The Washington Post 5/26)
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Owen Made Her Mark, And Vocal Enemies, As a Justice in Texas (The Washington Post 5/26)
GOP Tilting Balance Of Power to the Right (The Washington Post 5/26)
Senate Backs First of Judicial Nominees Promised a Vote (The New York Times 5/26)
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For a New Judge, Self-Reliance in Her Life and in the Law (The New York Times 5/26) 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) Relevant Links:
Judicial nominees, Department of Justice site - http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/judicialnominations.htm Related Stories:
Myers left out of Senate deal on Bush nominees (5/24)
Myers seen as expendable in judicial nominee fight (5/23)
Senate begins debate on Bush judicial nominees (5/19)
Senate showdown on Bush judicial nominees nears (5/17)
Democrats won't budge on Myers, other nominees (5/13)
Debate continues over blocked judicial nominees (05/10)
Democrats reject GOP offer on Bush judicial nominees (04/29)
GOP refuses compromise on Bush judicial nominees (4/27)
Democrats may offer deal on some Bush nominees (4/26)
Frist to challenge Democrats on judicial nominees (4/15)
Senate panel votes to advance Myers nomination (03/18)
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)