The confirmation of N. Randy Smith is one of the more interesting tales of the Blue Slip process. Smith was a fairly prominent Idaho attorney at the time of his initial nomination.
George W. Bush originally nominated Smith to the seat being vacated by Stephen Trott, whose chambers were in Boise. However, Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer argued that Trott held a "California seat," since his legal career had been in California prior to his federal service and Trott himself had replaced another judge from California.
Because of Feinstein and Boxer's objections, Smith's nomination languished. A year later, Thomas Nelson, whose chambers were also in Boise, took senior status and President Bush switched Smith's nomination from the Trott seat to the Nelson seat. The Senate then confirmed Smith by a vote of 94-0.
The confirmation of N. Randy Smith is one of the more interesting tales of the Blue Slip process. Smith was a fairly prominent Idaho attorney at the time of his initial nomination.
George W. Bush originally nominated Smith to the seat being vacated by Stephen Trott, whose chambers were in Boise. However, Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer argued that Trott held a "California seat," since his legal career had been in California prior to his federal service and Trott himself had replaced another judge from California.
Because of Feinstein and Boxer's objections, Smith's nomination languished. A year later, Thomas Nelson, whose chambers were also in Boise, took senior status and President Bush switched Smith's nomination from the Trott seat to the Nelson seat. The Senate then confirmed Smith by a vote of 94-0.