Miller of Helena Finally Confirmed to US District Court

Last Thursday the U.S. Senate voted 88-0 to confirm Judge Brian S. Miller of Helena as U.S. district court judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The district judicial seat has been vacant for over a year after the death of the late Judge George Howard of Pine Bluff. Howard in April 2007. Judge Miller was nominated by President Bush last year. Miller was one of three black candidates considered by the White House out of six names submitted by U.S. Rep. John Boozman (R). Both Senator's Lincoln and Pryor supported Miller's appointment to fill the vacancy left by Howard, the state’s first and only black U.S. district court judge.

Judge Miller's confirmation by the Senate was delayed along with other Federal judges in an effort by Democrats to delay approval of President Bush's Federal Circuit Court judges nominations. To date, the Senate Democrat leadership has failed to be responsive in confirming circuit courts. This is evidenced by the fact President Bush has not received the same average number of circuit court nominees approved for the President Clinton in the final two years of his term. That number is around 15 to 17 judges, but since last January only 7 have been confirmed. In a compromise reached yesterday after protests by Republican Senators, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced an agreement that he would commit to confirming three more circuit court nominees by Memorial Day.

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