In addition to Justice Sotomayor – who was sworn in to the Supreme Court today by Chief Justice John Roberts – I have been closely following a couple of other nominations. Both of them have been approved by the relevant committee but held up from a full vote in the Senate, which is on recess for the rest of the month.
Rep. John McHugh is President Obama's nominee to be Secretary of the Army. The Baptist Joint Committee and other religious liberty organizations have expressed concern over McHugh's record and level of commitment to properly applying the separation of church and state. The two Senators from Kansas, Brownback and Roberts, have placed a hold on his nomination.
Judge David Hamilton – the President's first nominee to the bench, selected to join the 7th Circuit some 5 months ago – has had a hold placed on his nomination by Senator Inhofe (R-OK), who has "no intention of lifting it". Inhofe's objection apparently stems from Hamilton's decision disallowing sectarian prayer from opening Indiana House sessions.
