Senate Judiciary OKs magistrate for judge

U.S. Magistrate Judge William T. Lawrence in Indianapolis has just won unanimous approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning to become a federal district judge.

At the end of its 10 a.m. business meeting that concluded just before 10:30 a.m., the committee voted 10-0 in favor of Magistrate Lawrence’s nomination for a judgeship in the Southern District of Indiana. His confirmation hearing was May 2.

Now, Magistrate Lawrence awaits confirmation from the full Senate. The president had selected him in February to succeed Judge John D. Tinder, who the Senate confirmed to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals late last year.

There is no set timeline for a confirmation vote, but the Senate majority leader will be responsible for determining when that might happen.