An Idaho judge has been confirmed by a U.S. Senate Committee. Now David Nye faces the full Senate. The Spokesman Review’s Eye on Boise Blog reports Nye got unanimous support from the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday for the job of Idaho’s next U.S. district judge.
But it’s unlikely Nye will get conformation from the full Senate any time soon. There are 17 other nominees ahead of him. His name probably won’t go before the Senate prior to lawmakers' August recess.
The newspaper reports Idaho is down to one federal district judge. The state’s second judge, Edward Lodge, took senior status a year ago, meaning he hears fewer cases.
For nine years, Judge Nye has served as a judge for Idaho’s Sixth Judicial District. He has 20 years’ experience in private practice litigation.
Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch hope Nye can get a vote when lawmakers come back from their August break. The two Senators say Idaho also needs a third federal district judge to help handle the state’s caseload. Idaho is under a “judicial emergency,” that means out-of-state judges are coming in to handle Idaho cases.
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