Judge nominees clear Senate panel

Thursday, May 11, 2000 | 11:02 a.m.

SUN AND WIRE REPORTS

WASHINGTON -- Two Nevada judges today cleared another hurdle in Congress on their way to the federal bench.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved U.S. Magistrate Roger Hunt and Henderson Justice of the Peace Kent Dawson as nominees to U.S. District Court in Nevada.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., nominated the two. President Clinton approved and recommended them. Now the judges have one test left: the full Senate.

Reid could not be reached today for comment on the obstacles Dawson and Hunt face in the Senate.

Reid is "cautiously optimistic" the two will be approved, Reid spokesman David Cherry said. Nevada's delegation in Congress has made a case for more judges to handle a growing number of cases.

"It would be responsible for them to fill these positions," Cherry said.

Clinton this year has charged that Senate Republicans are delaying approval of his judicial nominees. The Senate has approved only seven judges this year. There are 73 federal judicial openings.

Clinton has even implied Senate delays were because of the minority backgrounds of some nominees.

Last weekend Clinton criticized Sens. Phil Gramm and Kay Bailey Hutchinson, both R-Texas, for trying to block his nomination of Enrique Moreno to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The two senators said he was unqualified; Clinton called that "unconscionable."

However, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi in recent weeks has signaled willingness to approve more judges.

Reid has nominated two other judges for federal positions: U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Linda Riegle was approved by Clinton as a U.S. District Court nominee and awaits a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

U.S. District Judge Johnnie Rawlinson was approved by Clinton for a spot on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. She also awaits a hearing.