Colorado’s judicial nominees, Philip Brimmer and Christine Arguello, were approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning.
Their nominations now need to proceed to the floor of the Senate for a final confirmation vote.
Only four U.S. District Court judges are carrying full caseloads in Denver and two are in semi-retirement. There are three vacancies.
If Arguello and Brimmer are confirmed, only one vacant slot will remain and court officials have said the nominations will ease the burden on the court.
“A fair process that gives qualified candidates and ‘up-or-down’ vote has always been my desire and I am extremely pleased with the Judiciary Committee’s action today,” said Colorado Republican Sen. Wayne Allard. “It is critical to the administration of justice that the vacancies on Colorado’s federal district court be filled immediately. Although I had hoped that we could be sending three nominees to the Senate for a vote, the rapid consideration these two nominees received from the Judiciary Committee is greatly appreciated.”
Colorado’s other senator, Democrat Ken Salazar, also put out a statement:
“We have been working to move mountains to get these vacancies on the District Court in Colorado confirmed so late in the legislative calendar” Salazar said. “I applaud Chairman (Patrick) Leahy (Democrat of Vermont) and Ranking Member (Arlen) Specter (Republican of Pennsylvania) for their leadership and thank them for moving these highly-qualified nominees through the confirmation process as quickly as they can. I will continue to work with my colleagues to find a way to get Ms. Arguello and Mr. Brimmer confirmed on the Senate floor before the 110th Congress adjourns.”
The full Senate has to vote on Brimmer and Arguello’s confirmation before Congress adjourns for the year.
Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond in Virginia who follows the judicial selection process closely, says there is a real possibility that Sen. Harry Reid will schedule a floor vote before the adjournment.
“I will be optimistic that the people voted out will get a floor vote,” Tobias said. “There is bipartisan support of the senators, so I am reasonably optimistic. I think there is every chance they will get on the calendar.”
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
