Though President Barack Obama lags behind his predecessor, George W. Bush, in nominating judges and getting them confirmed, he may take consolation in solidifying Democratic holds on a handful of appellate courts.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit again has a majority of active judges appointed by Democratic presidents, after the Senate confirmed Raymond Lohier Jr. on Sunday. The New York-based court has often had a Democratic majority, but recent retirements had created a 5-5 split. Lohier, an assistant U.S. attorney who worked on the Ponzi scheme cases of Marc Dreier and Bernard Madoff, will take the seat previously held by Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
