Appeals Judge Finally Confirmed

After a 14-month delay, the Senate this week finally confirmed Philadelphia Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo to a federal appeals court by a vote of 82-6. The delay in Restrepo’s confirmation has become part of a partisan battle over federal judge vacancies. Democrats have accused Republicans, including Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, of purposefully slowing down the confirmation process for Obama appointees. Toomey took six months to give the go-ahead to the Senate’s Judiciary Committee to advance a nominee.