In a political horse trade reminiscent of last year’s “Throw Mama From the Bench” deal, Sen. Orrin Hatch on Wednesday unjammed the judicial confirmation process after apparently striking a bargain with President Clinton.
According to Hatch, who is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, President Clinton has agreed to nominate conservative Republican Ted Stewart to a Utah district court slot. In exchange, San Francisco labor lawyer Marsha Berzon is expected to be allowed to reach the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Her confirmation hearing was allowed to go forward Wednesday, along with those of several other judicial nominees.
