Obama names three Texas judges in apparent deal with Cornyn and Cruz

WASHINGTON– Breaking a longstanding logjam, President Obama announced nominees for three vacant Texas federal court benches late Thursday.

If confirmed, U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman of San Antonio, Texarkana lawyer Robert Schroeder III, and Sherman Magistrate Judge Amos Mazzant III will all get lifetime jobs as U.S. district court judges.

“Any nominations are critically important, as Texas desperately needs to have as many of its nine district and two circuit vacancies filled,” said Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor who tracks nominations. “The judges are overwhelmed by crushing case loads and too few judicial resources.”

Pitman’s appointment would be “historic,” Tobias added, because he would be the first openly gay federal judge in the state.

More at http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/obama-names-three-texas-judges-in-apparent-deal-with-cornyn-and-cruz.html/ .