Horan hearing is Wednesday
WASHINGTON, D.C — The Senate confirmation hearing for Butler County Judge Marilyn Horan to become a federal judge will be next Wednesday.
According to the Internet site for the Judicial Committee, her hearing will be in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Horan, a county court judge since 1996, was nominated in July by President Obama to fill a vacancy on the federal bench in Pittsburgh.
Several other judicial nominees also will have their hearings that day.
The announcement on the scheduling of the confirmation hearings was made Wednesday.
Before this, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., had not submitted a sheet of support, called a “blue sheet,” needed to set the hearings in motion.
A spokesman for Toomey’s office Wednesday said the hearings had not been scheduled earlier because the Judicial Committee had to complete background investigations on the nominees.
“Sen. Toomey submitted the blue slips immediately after the investigation and background check process was successfully completed by committee staff,” his office said in a written statement. “He has spoken directly with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to emphasize the importance of getting these judges confirmed as soon as possible.”
Before the Judiciary Committee forwards any nomination to be voted on the senate floor, it needs blue slips from both senators from the nominee’s home state.
Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., turned in his blue slip in August on Horan.
According to Toomey’s office, during the hearings, the nominees and witnesses present testimony.
Then the Judiciary Committee votes on whether to send the nominee to the full Senate. If the committee does that, it can submit the nomination with a favorable recommendation, an unfavorable recommendation or no recommendation at all.
The Senate debates a nominee until a senator asks for unanimous consent to end debate and to move to a vote on the nominee. If consent is granted, the Senate votes on the nominee, with a majority vote required for confirmation.
There’s no timetable for how long this process takes.
When contacted, Horan declined to comment.
She graduated from Butler High School in 1972 and then went to Penn State University to study criminology. She eventually got her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1979.
She worked at the Butler law firm of Murrin, Taylor, Flach & Horan for more than 17 years before becoming a judge.
Horan is married to Joseph Caparosa, and they have four adult children.
The 20-member committee is chaired by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. It’s ranking minority member is Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
