Following several months of delays, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a confirmation hearing for a Madison attorney’s nomination to a federal appeals court.
President Obama nominated Donald Schott in January to fill a seat on the Seventh Circuit Court in Chicago that’s been vacant for six years. The appointment stalled though because of an ongoing dispute between Wisconsin’s two U.S. Senators, Republican Ron Johnson and Democrat Tammy Baldwin, over the nomination process. A confirmation hearing has now been set for next Wednesday.
Sen. Johnson in March signed-off on allowing the hearing to proceed, although he has not yet said whether he would vote confirm to Schott.
Sen. Baldwin said in a statement that she would continue to push for a vote on the nomination. “I don’t believe we have completed our responsibility until this nominee is confirmed,” she said.