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Moderate Is Obama's First Court Nominee

President to pick judge with bipartisan backing for Seventh Circuit

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 17, 2009 6:29 AM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama will make his first judicial appointment this week, choosing a moderate judge for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, sources tell the New York Times. The selection of David Hamilton, an Indiana judge with bipartisan support, is meant to signal the administration's effort to reduce the political battles that have accompanied recent appointments. "We would like to put the history of the confirmation wars behind us," said a White House official.

Hamilton was appointed to the federal court bench by Bill Clinton in 1994; he is the nephew of Lee Hamilton, the Indiana congressman who co-chaired the 9/11 commission. In his most high-profile case, he ruled that the Indiana legislature could not open its proceedings with overtly Christian prayers—a decision overturned on appeal. Obama is expected to make further appointments soon for the 17 vacancies on the appeals courts, which answer only to the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia, left, and John Paul Stevens, right, at the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals annual dinner in Chicago, Monday, May 19, 2008.
Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia, left, and John Paul Stevens, right, at the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals annual dinner in Chicago, Monday, May 19, 2008.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Supreme Court, in Washington. Beneath it are 12 appeals courts with 17 vacancies for President Obama to fill.
The Supreme Court, in Washington. Beneath it are 12 appeals courts with 17 vacancies for President Obama to fill.   (©Padraic.)
President Barack Obama, Monday, March 16, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington.
President Barack Obama, Monday, March 16, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
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