Senate confirms Fourth Circuit nominee

The Senate voted 50-43 to confirm Pamela Harris to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit on Monday.

Harris is a professor at the Georgetown University Law School.

{mosads}Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said he opposed her nomination because her record prior to being nominated was full of “left-wing philosophy.”

“It’s as if there were two entirely distinct nominees vying for the same nomination,” Grassley said. “The post-nominations statements are strikingly different than her pre-nomination views.

“From this nominee’s past commentary we know she’s a liberal. … Is there any doubt that this nominee views the courts as a third political branch?”

Grassley also said that Democrats wanted to “fast-track” this particular nominee because the Fourth Circuit hears cases on federal laws, such as ObamaCare.

“Professor Harris is a rock solid vote for protecting the ObamaCare subsidy,” Grassley said Monday.

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) defended Harris’ nomination, saying she’s “an extraordinarily talented person” who is highly qualified for the position.

The Senate confirmed several other nominations by voice-vote. A list follows:

– Joseph Mohorovic to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

– Elliot Kaye to be Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

– Brian McKeon to be a Principal Deputy Under Secretary of the Department of Defense.