Horan's move to U.S. Court expected soon
Butler County Judge Marilyn Horan will have to wait a little longer.
The federal court nominee will not get a confirmation vote in the Senate until after Labor Day.
But it now appears not a matter of “if” but “when” she will win confirmation to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
“Judge Horan is very likely to be confirmed next week,” Sen. Pat Toomey's spokesman Steve Kelly said by email Wednesday. “Sen. Toomey believes Judge Horan has the acumen and experience to excel as a federal judge and will make a great addition to the Western District bench.”
The promising forecast for Horan followed the Senate on Tuesday confirming by voice vote seven other district court nominees. The action came as Republicans and Democrats agreed to move President Trump's judicial nominations.
Among those confirmed was U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Baxter of Erie to a vacant seat on the Western District.
That still leaves eight additional federal court nominees, including Horan, to be voted on. That should come soon after senators return from a brief Labor Day vacation.
“As for Judge Horan and the remaining (nominees), it is our understanding they will be the next nominees to be voted on,” Sen. Bob Casey's spokesman Jacklin Rhoads said by email Wednesday.
“Since cloture is filed, the vote could come up right after Labor Day. These seats have been open for far too long. Sen. Casey is confident Judge Horan will serve the Commonwealth honorably as she has Butler County for over two decades.”
Rhoads, however, noted that a vote has not yet been scheduled.
The vote, according to one media report citing a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, will come “at a time to be determined next week.”
Casey, a Democrat, and Toomey, a Republican, have both long supported the confirmations of both Horan and Baxter to the federal bench.
The nomination is the second time Horan's name has been put forward for one of the vacant seats on the federal court in Pennsylvania. In July 2015, she and Baxter were both nominated by President Barack Obama.
But the GOP-controlled Senate failed to take a confirmation vote, and the nominations expired at the end of the congressional session in January 2017.
Trump in December renominated Horan and Baxter. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 15 approved their nominations.
Casey and Toomey in a joint statement lauded Baxter following Tuesday's confirmation.
“Judge Baxter has served as a federal Magistrate Judge for the Western District since 1995 and will bring this wealth of experience in the federal system to her new seat,” Casey said.
“In her 23 years of service to the people of Erie, Judge Baxter has shown that she possesses the integrity, intellect and independence required to be an outstanding federal District Court Judge.”
Toomey said, “Judge Baxter has the intellect, experience, and character needed to excel as a federal judge.” He noted that the district court seat that she will fill has been open for five years.
