Senate confirms Trump pick for solicitor general

Source: Associated Press

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 — 12:12PM

WASHINGTON — The Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump's nominee for solicitor general.

The vote was 50-47 for Noel Francisco, a former clerk to the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Francisco has served as the principal deputy solicitor general since January of this year.

The solicitor general is the top legal advocate for the government, arguing cases before the Supreme Court. The high court opens its term in two weeks, on Oct. 2.

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Read more: http://www.startribune.com/senate-confirms-trump-pick-for-solicitor-general/445764863/

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Source: Reuters

#SUPREME COURT SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 / 1:52 PM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO

Senate confirms Trump's pick for top Supreme Court lawyer

Lawrence Hurley
2 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as his administration’s top advocate before the U.S. Supreme Court, overcoming united Democratic opposition.

Noel Francisco, a Washington lawyer with strong conservative credentials who previously worked in Republican former President George W. Bush’s administration, was confirmed by the Senate as U.S. solicitor general on a vote of 50-47.

All the Senate’s Democrats voted against him except for New Jersey’s Robert Menendez, who is currently on trial facing corruption charges in Newark.

Francisco takes up his new position as the Supreme Court prepares to begin its new term on Oct. 2. The court has several potential blockbuster cases on its docket, including the challenge to Trump’s travel ban on people from six predominantly Muslim countries entering the United States. That case will be argued before the justices on Oct. 10.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-solicitorgeneral/senate-confirms-trumps-pick-for-top-supreme-court-lawyer-idUSKCN1BU2FP