Little Rock Lawyer Now Will Be Federal Judge
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Little Rock lawyer Leon Holmes is on his way
to the federal bench.
He was confirmed yesterday in a tight 51-to-46 vote in the U-S
Senate. The 53-year-old was nominated more than 18 months ago by
President Bush to become a US district judge for the Eastern
District of Arkansas.
But Holmes` own words -- and a dispute between Democrats and the
Republican White House over judgeships around the country --
brought numerous delays.
Holmes drew criticism for his strident opposition to abortion
and for some of his writings about women`s relationships with their
husbands. He was the first district judge nominee in more than half
a century to pass through the Judiciary Committee without a
recommendation.
Holmes said he didn`t know what to expect from the vote after
becoming a political football. Still, he said he respected all of
the senators` decisions, regardless of how they voted.
Holmes says he would have withdrawn his nomination if he hadn`t
received critical support from both Democratic Senators Mark Pryor
and Blanche Lincoln.
