Senate advances judicial nominees for Ga.

The Senate advanced three of President Obama’s judicial nominations for Georgia courts.

The Senate voted to end debate on all three Monday evening and final confirmation votes are expected Tuesday. 

{mosads}Leslie Abrams’ nomination to be U.S. District Judge for the middle district of Georgia was advanced in a 68-28 vote. The Senate voted 67-29 to end debate on the nomination of Mark Cohen to be U.S. District Judge for the northern district of Georgia. And debate was ended on a 66-29 vote for Eleanor Ross’ nomination to be U.S. District Judge for the northern district of Georgia.

Georgia has issued a judicial emergency with numerous vacancies and a backlog of cases.  

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was also able to get unanimous consent to confirm four career ambassadorships by voice-vote Monday evening.

With Republicans taking control of the upper chamber next year, Democrats are more motivated than ever to clear as many of Obama’s executive and judicial nominations as possible before the end of the year.

A list of the ambassadors confirmed Tuesday follows:

– Barbara Leaf to be U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates

– Theodore Osius III to be U.S. to Vietnam

– Erica Barks Ruggles to be U.S. ambassador to Rwanda

– Karen Clark Stanton to be U.S. to Timor-Leste