Senate confirms Tinder for 7th Circuit

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The U.S. Senate voted late Tuesday to confirm U.S. Judge John D. Tinder to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, meaning he’s the first Hoosier jurist appointed to the federal appellate court in two decades.

Senators voted unanimously 93-0 in favor of Judge Tinder’s appointment shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday, after a day of voting on federal spending, alternative tax, and debate on various other issues. Seven senators didn’t vote and he gained support from everyone else, including both Indiana senators – Democrat Evan Bayh and Republican Richard Lugar, who had recommended him for the spot.

Specifics on the vote and a breakdown by senator can be found online at the Senate’s Web site.

No debate came from senators in the less than two minutes of time before moving to the vote, though Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Va., mentioned that this Democrat-controlled Senate has confirmed more judges than previous years under Republican leadership. Ranking judicial committee member Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., asked for unanimous consent on the confirmation.

Leahy asked his fellow senators shortly after 10 p.m. to vote on confirmation before finishing statements on the federal spending bill, but some senators objected to yielding their time and insisted on carrying on with comments about that before voting on both the federal budget bill and subsequently Judge Tinder’s confirmation.

Judge Tinder, a lifelong Indianapolis resident who’s been at the District Court since 1987, will now replace retiring Circuit Judge Daniel A. Manion, who came from South Bend after being appointed in 1986. An official date hasn’t been established for when Judge Tinder’s appointment begins, but Judge Manion has said he’d decide on the timing once the confirmation was complete.

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