The U.S. Senate's Judiciary Committee approved Hartford District Judge Christopher Droney's nomination to the federal appeals court by a unanimous voice vote Thursday morning, sending the appointment to almost certain approval in the full Senate.
Droney, a 57-year old West Hartford Democrat nominated by President Barack Obama, has been warmly received by Senators of both parties in a remarkably short confirmation process, an experience unlike that of others of Obama's judicial nominees who have met Republican opposition.
Obama nominated Droney, a popular figure among the state bar, to the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in May, after the administration's earlier appellate nominee from the Connecticut, federal district Judge Robert N. Chatigny, withdrew. Chatigny encountered unusually sharp Republican opposition over remarks that some have interpreted as opposition to the death penalty,
Droney has emerged as a judicial moderate over 14 years of presiding over a diverse collection of cases as a U.S. District Judge. He was Connecticut's U.S. Attorney before becoming a judge. Both federal nominations were made by former President William J. Clinton.
He was recommended to the White House as a candidate for the appeals court in New York by U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman. Droney's brother, former Democratic State Chairman John Droney, helped organize Lieberman's upset campaign against Lowell P. Weicker Jr., a former U.S. Senator and later governor of Connecticut.
There was little discussion by committee members before the voice vote. Droney's nomination was endorsed in brief remarks by Connecticut's newly-elected junior Senator, Richard Blumenthal, and U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat. Droney and Whitehouse served together as U.S. Attorney's of their respective states.
Droney's nomination must now be confirmed by the full U.S. Senate. A vote has not been scheduled.
Carl Tobias, Williams Professor at the University of Richmond School of Law and a frequent writer on federal judicial appointments, said Droney's approval by the committee was expected because he is viewed as a well-qualified and non controversial nominee.
"The only question now is when he will have a Senate floor vote," Tobias said. "My best sense is this fall."
The 2nd circuit appeals court is considered one of the nation's most important and members routinely appear on short lists when vacancies occur on the U.S, Supreme Court. It is composed of members from, and has jurisdiction over, Connecticut, New York and Vermont.
The American Bar Association gave Droney's appellate nomination a unanimous well-qualified rating, its highest.
