Wisconsin Information
Senate Schedule
For Immediate Release
(202) 224-5653
KOHL, FEINGOLD ANNOUNCE ACTIVATION OF WISCONSIN FEDERAL NOMINATING COMMISSION
Commission will recommend candidates for judicial vacancy created by Federal Appeals Court Judge Terence Evans’ announcement to take senior status in January
“Judge Evans has had an exemplary career in nearly 30 years of public service on federal bench, and his departure will be a loss to all of us who value his intellect, sense of fairness and wit. As we begin the process to fill this vacancy, I look forward to the commission’s advice and insight in making judicial recommendations,” Kohl said. “Serving as experts in the field, I value their judgment and guidance.”
“I thank Judge Evans for the years of dedicated public service he gave to the people of
The commission charter details the number of members each senator may appoint based on the political party of the senators and the president. For the current commission, Kohl nominated Stephen Glynn and Nathan Fishbach, both of
Use of a federal nominating commission to recommend choices for vacancies in the federal judicial system dates back to 1979, when it was instituted by Wisconsin Senators Gaylord Nelson and William Proxmire.
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Fact Sheet on the
The Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission is charged with making recommendations to fill vacancies for federal judgeships and U.S. Attorney positions in
History
The Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission was established in 1979 by Wisconsin Senators Gaylord Nelson and William Proxmire. Democratic and Republican senators have used the Commission for every judicial and U.S. Attorney vacancy in the past 30 years, under both Republican and Democratic presidents.
Makeup
The Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission Charter provides that the Commission will consist of eleven members. The Chair of the Commission is the Dean of either the University of Wisconsin Law School or
· When the president of the
· When the president of the
· When the president of the
Recent Use of the Commission
Senators Kohl and Feingold are both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. They used the Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission during the Bush Administration, in cooperation with Rep. Sensenbrenner, to recommend candidates for vacancies filled by the following individuals:
· William Griesbach, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (
· Steven Biskupic, Eastern District U.S. Attorney, confirmed May 7, 2002
· J.B. Van Hollen, Western District U.S. Attorney, confirmed August 1, 2002
· Diane Sykes, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, confirmed June 24, 2004
· Erik Peterson, Western District U.S. Attorney, confirmed May 26, 2006