Controversial Ninth Circuit Picks Clear Senate Judiciary Panel (1)

Two nominees for the California-based federal appeals court, one of whom received an unqualified rating from the American Bar Association, cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee Nov. 21, despite opposition from Democrats.

The Republican-led committee narrowly approved the nominations of Lawrence VanDyke and Patrick Bumatay to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Both nominees, if confirmed by the full Senate, would add to the rising number of conservative judges President Donald Trump has appointed. Judicial appointments by Trump recently “flipped” a third federal circuit, which means seven appeals courts now have a majority of judges appointed by Republican ...