Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve the nomination of Judge Shwartz to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.  That nomination can now be taken up by the full Senate.

That is the good news.  The bad news is that the vote was 10-6, strictly along party lines.  Since this is an election year, there is always the potential that Senators will play politics with the nomination instead of addressing it solely on its merits.  Knowledgeable observers in New Jersey, regardless of party affiliation, overwhelmingly believe that Judge Shwartz is highly qualified and shoul

On Friday,  the same day that he held his promised second meeting with Judge Shwartz, Senator Menendez announced that he was now supporting her nomination to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.  Senator Menendez explained that Judge Shwartz had requested another meeting with him, and that, at that second meeting, she allayed his prior concerns about her substantive knowledge.  Her nomination can now be brought up for consideration by the Senate.

We

It is being reported that Senator Menendez has agreed to meet again with Judge Shwartz, in connection with President Obama’s nomination of Judge Shwartz to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.  Throughout the legal community, including on this blog, the call has gone out for Senator Menendez to reconsider his position, since Judge Shwartz has a superlative reputation on her merits. 

If the reports of a new meeting between Senator Menendez and Judge Shwartz