Committee vote on lesbian court nominee on hold for at least a week

Republicans on the U.S. Judiciary Committee on Thursday asked to hold over the nominations of openly gay federal court nominee Alison Nathan and three other court nominees until next week.

The requests for delays have become a routine occurrence in the Committee’s deliberations over federal court nominees. In March, Republicans delayed a vote whether to recommend the confirmation of openly gay federal district court nominee Paul Oetken and three others. It gave voice vote approval for Oetken’s recommendation one week later. The Oetken nomination is now awaiting consideration by the full Senate.

Nathan, who is nominated to the same court as Oetken, the U.S. District Court for Southern District of New York, or Manhattan, had her confirmation hearing June 8.

Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy granted the Republican request for delay. The nominations will likely be on the agenda for next week’s business meeting.

Grassley submitted some written questions to Nathan but none were gay specific.

A third openly gay nominee by President Obama is still stalled. Ed DuMont, a Washington attorney with significant experience, was nominated in April 2010 but has yet to receive a confirmation hearing. DuMont has been nominated to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals Court for the Federal Circuit.

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