U.S. Senate confirms John E. Dowdell to U.S. district judgeship in Tulsa

“But Robert Bacharach and nearly a dozen judicial nominees, who could be confirmed and who would fill four circuit court vacancies and five additional judicial emergency vacancies, are being forced to wait until next year — or perhaps forever — by the Senate Republican leadership.”

Dowdell, an attorney in private practice in Tulsa, was nominated in February to replace Judge Terence C. Kern, who assumed senior status nearly three years ago.

Obama's first nominee for the post, Arvo Mikkanen, was withdrawn a year ago because of opposition — never clearly explained — from Oklahoma Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe.

Inhofe, R-Tulsa, and Coburn, R-Muskogee, strongly support Dowdell and Bacharach.

In remarks on the Senate floor on Tuesday, Inhofe said Dowdell had the “requisite experience and judicial temperament to be a fine judge.”

“I only wish we would get more of this type of judicial nominee from the administration,” Inhofe said.