Blog of the Legal Times is reporting that the Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to send the nominations of Judge David Hamilton (7th Circuit), Andre Davis (4th Circuit) and Thomas Perez (Civil Rights Div.) to the full Senate. Perez and Davis were vote out with wide majorities, but Hamilton – who has been wrongly maligned for his decision in the Indiana House prayer decision – squeaked through with a closer vote.
In a potential sign of things to come with Judge Sotomayor's confirmation, ranking Republican member Jeff Sessions voted no on all 3.
[UPDATE: The Indianapolis Star says the vote on Hamilton fell along party lines, with Republicans objecting both to the legislative prayer decision and a ruling enforcing the Establishment Clause in a religious display dispute.]
