(L to R) Patrick Bumatay andLawrence VanDyke appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee during confirmation hearing to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Photos: Diego Radzinschi/ALM
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday gave sign-off to two nominees for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in party-line votes, moving both a step closer to confirmation.
All 12 Republican Senate Judiciary members voted to forward the nominations of Southern California prosecutor Patrick Bumatay and former Nevada and Montana solicitor general Lawrence VanDyke to the full Senate. Committee Democrats, citing Bumatay’s lack of appellate experience and questions about VanDyke’s qualifications and ties to Nevada, voted against both nominations.
