Senate advances judicial nominations

The Senate voted to advance three of President Obama’s judicial nominations on Tuesday.

The Senate voted 56-43 to end debate on the nomination of André Birotte to be a U.S. District Judge for Central California.

{mosads}Robin Rosenberg’s nomination to be a U.S. District Judge for Southern Florida was advanced on a 58-42 vote.

And the Senate voted 57-39 to advance the nomination of John deGravelles to be a U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana.

Last year, Senate Democrats used the “nuclear option” to unilaterally change the Senate filibuster rules so that most nominations could be advanced with a simple majority vote instead of the previously required 60 votes.

Confirmation votes on all three are expected later Tuesday, around 2:15 p.m.