Friday, Sept. 30, 2005 | 10:25 a.m.
WASHINGTON -- Attorney General Brian Sandoval flew into the nation's capital two days early for his hearing Thursday in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. That gave the U.S. District Judge nominee time for a brutal mock-hearing practice session with Justice Department officials on Wednesday.
By the time he caught up with his wife and three children sight-seeing at Ford's Theater later that afternoon, Sandoval was charred by the grilling.
"I'm still trying to get the singe marks off my suit," Sandoval said.
He need not have worried. Sandoval and four other federal court nominees sailed through their hearing Thursday. The panel likely will approve their nominations in the next week or two, setting up expected approval by the full Senate.
The intimidating panel of 18 senators that spent weeks probing the record of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts had little venom left for Sandoval and the other noncontroversial nominees.
In fact, only one senator, Republican Orrin Hatch of Utah, showed up at the hearing. He said he wouldn't pester them with questions.
"I know your reputation and I think each of you is qualified to serve in your respective positions," said Hatch, who introduced himself to the nominees before the hearing, and asked one, Harry Mattice, how to pronounce his name.
Still, Senate rules require a hearing, so Hatch lobbed a softball at each. He asked Sandoval how his job experience would serve him as a judge.
Sandoval responded that his varied experience as a private lawyer, state lawmaker, regulator (as a Nevada gaming commissioner) and attorney general had prepared him for the bench.
"I will treat all litigants with dignity and respect," Sandoval noted.
Hatch nodded and moved on.
After 45 minutes of canned remarks and family introductions, the hearing was over.
The White House nominated Sandoval to the Senate on the recommendation of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who along with Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., testified on the nominee's behalf (a "class act," Reid said; a "great Nevadan," Ensign said).
The ranking senator of the president's party typically recommends judges to the White House, although Ensign allows Reid to recommend one of every four openings. Reid had asked Sandoval to take a judgeship several years ago, but Sandoval declined. To Sandoval's surprise, Reid asked him again last year.
Some observers said it was shrewd for the Senate Democratic leader to take a rising GOP star out of politics.
Sandoval's take on that was politician-like: "My response is I was honored that Senator Reid and Senator Ensign would consider me for this position."
In an interview earlier this week, Sandoval said he wanted the job for a simple reason.
"For me, public service is an honor, and I have the ultimate respect for the rule of law," Sandoval said. "I just saw this as an opportunity to serve the United States for life."
Reid had praised Sandoval as a devoted family man and noted that Sandoval was also looking forward to a job that didn't involve campaigning away from his wife, Kathleen, and his children, James, 10, Madeline, 8, and Marisa, 14 months.
Sandoval's mother said the judge-to-be had been an upstanding boy.
"Since the age of 3 he has said, 'Mom, I just want to be my own person,' " Teri Sandoval, of Santa Fe, N.M., said. "Ethics and morals are the things that matter to him. He never wanted fortune or fame. With Brian, what you see is what you get."
A beaming Ron Sandoval of Reno said he had burst with pride the day his son went to law school. He predicted Sandoval would be a "down-to-earth, honest, nonprejudicial" judge.
"He puts his mind to something and he goes for it," Sandoval said.
Sandoval, 42, of Reno, is one of the youngest U.S. District Court judges approved in recent memory, a panel spokesman said.
The panel released a 44-page biographical sketch of Sandoval in which the nominee had ranked the top 10 cases of his career. Sandoval listed at No. 1 his experience as part of the state's legal team that challenged Yucca Mountain radiation standards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Sandoval's daughter Madeline gave her dad a good-luck peck on the cheek moments before the hearing.
"Are you sweating?" she asked.
She later dozed uncomfortably in her chair several rows behind where her father sat under eight white-hot spotlights mounted on the ornate room's wood-paneled walls.
District judge would be Sandoval's 13th job, according to his resume. Was this his easiest job interview ever?
Sandoval smiled. "I just appreciate the fact that we had a hearing."
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