Senator Committee Absence Again Stalls Court Nominee Votes (2)

The Senate Judiciary Committee again delayed consideration of a nominee who would be the first Black woman federal district judge in Washington state, as the Democratic-led panel continues to lack a tie-breaking vote.

Charnelle Bjelkengren was poised for a vote on Thursday after she was held over from the Feb. 16 markup, a perfunctory move afforded to most nominees following their confirmation hearings.

But Democrats canceled the subsequent March 2 meeting amid Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) absence for treatment of shingles. She expects to make a return later this month, Feinstein press secretary Adam Russell told Bloomberg Law.

Feinstein’s absence ...