Sensenbrenner forwards judicial candidates

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U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Menomonee Falls, has forwarded the names of six candidates for a federal judge’s seat without reaching agreement with his two colleagues in the U.S. Senate.

Last September, the Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission recommended the list of six candidates to succeed U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Randa. Randa indicated he would seek senior status if President Bush could successfully appoint a replacement before the end of his term.

The bipartisan commission recommended Milwaukee County Judges Michael B. Brennan, Timothy G. Dugan and Maxine Aldridge White, Waukesha County Judge J. Mac Davis, Racine County Judge Gerald P. Ptacek and Assistant U.S. Attorney James L. Santelle.

Usually, Sensenbrenner and Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold forward the candidates to the President together. However, that did not happen this time. Last week, Sensenbrenner forwarded the commission’s entire list without the senators.

“I have urged the President to consider all of these highly-qualified applicants,” Sensen-brenner said in a statement. “I believe this non-partisan process is one that works to select qualified individuals to fill federal judge and U.S. Attorney vacancies in Wisconsin.”

Kohl and Feingold responded to that move by indicating they still planned to forward their recommendation to Bush.

“We have been actively conferring about the candidates for the federal judicial vacancy and met with Congressman Sensenbrenner shortly before Congress adjourned for the year,” the senators said in a joint statement. “We agreed to meet again when Congress reconvenes and, regardless of today’s action, intend to submit our recommendations to the White House in the near future and work with our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee and in the Senate to fill the judgeship.”