nothin Bolden Squeaks Past Penultimate Judgeship… | New Haven Independent

Bolden Squeaks Past Penultimate Judgeship Hurdle

Bolden at his June 29 Senate confirmation hearing.

New Haven’s top city government lawyer survived unified Republican opposition and advanced one step closer Thursday to becoming a federal judge.

The U.S. Senate’s Judiciary Committee voted 10 – 8 to approve the nomination of the attorney, Corporation Counsel Victor Bolden.

Bolden’s nomination now advances to the final stage, a vote by the full U.S. Senate.

President Barack Obama nominated Bolden, a former NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund attorney and a 1989 Harvard Law grad, for the federal judgeship on June 13. Bolden appeared before the Judiciary Committee for a confirmation hearing on June 29.

All eight of the Judiciary Committee’s Republicans voted Thursday against Bolden, criticizing him for a 24-year-old law review article he wrote and for publicly disagreeing with a Supreme Court decision that struck down parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Click here for a story on the hearing by the Ct Mirror’s Ana Radelat, who predicted the Bolden will eventually win full Senate confirmation thanks to changes in filibuster rules.

Connecticut U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Judiciary Committee, voted for Bolden. Blumenthal and Chris Murphy issued the following statement after the vote: Victor Bolden has dedicated his legal career to public service, and he will be a fair and honorable judge. Whether faithfully protecting the citizens of New Haven, or ensuring the promise of equal education for our nation’s children and college students, he has proven time and time again his courage, compassion and skill as an attorney. He possesses the qualities we believe epitomize a great judge. He has a strong commitment to the rule of law and a keen intellect. We hope and expect his nomination will receive prompt consideration from the full Senate.”

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