Senate advances Michigan judicial nominees

The Senate voted to advance the nomination of four district judges to serve in eastern Michigan.

Matt Frederick Leitman received a 55-43 vote to end debate on his nomination to serve as U.S. district judge for eastern Michigan.

{mosads}The Senate also voted 56-42 to end debate on Judy Levy, 56-43 to end debate on Laurie Michelson and 56-42 to end debate on Linda Parker for the same positions in eastern Michigan.

“Our Michigan nominees are highly qualified and represent some of the best legal minds we have,” Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said Tuesday. “They’re not only excellent nominees, they’re ready to go to work.”

Republicans have been forcing Democrats to hold cloture votes on most of President Obama’s executive and judicial nominees as a protest to Democrats unilaterally changing the Senate filibuster rules through the “nuclear option” late last year. It now requires only 51 votes to advance a nominee, instead of the previous 60 votes.

The Senate will vote on their final confirmation Wednesday, after confirming Carolyn McHugh to serve on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Senate voted 62-34 on Monday to end debate on her nomination.