U.S. Senate confirms Rebecca Ebinger as federal judge in Southern District

Fifth Judicial District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger was confirmed Monday by the U.S. Senate 83-0 to become only the second female district judge in Iowa's Southern District.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, recommended her to the White House last year and pushed Ebinger ahead over other federal judge nominees in other states. The nominee for Iowa's Northern District judgeship, Leonard Strand, also is expected to get a vote before the recess.

Carl Tobias, University of Richmond School of law professor and federal judiciary expert, said there were five judges nominated before Ebinger who remain without a vote. Tobias previously said that's not unusual for a judicicary chair to push ahead their recommendations.

Grassley in a previous statement said the two nominees 'are uniquely qualified to be federal judges and have exceptional credentials.”

Sen. Joni Ernst in a statement congratulating Ebinger said she has 'tremendous respect for Judge Ebinger's impressive career and her commitment to public service. Judge Ebinger's nomination is the result of an extensive search conducted by a Judicial Selection Commission formed by Senator Grassley. I greatly appreciate the hard work and thoroughness of Senator Grassley and his staff throughout the nomination process.”

'The confirmation of Rebecca Ebinger today is welcome news for Iowans, as an important judicial vacancy has been filled and our state will receive greater access to justice,” Why Courts Matter coalition released Monday after the vote. 'Today's good news also provides a stark reminder that for the rest of the country, judicial vacancies are piling up at an historic pace.”

The coalition pointed out that the U.S. Senate, and Grassley as judiciary chair, have refused to move President Obama's nominees forward. Grassley during his first year as chair, 'over oversaw the worst year for judicial nominees in over half a century, breaking his promise to move forward consensus nominees to the federal bench,” the coalition stated.

There are still 83 federal judicial vacancies across the country, including 32 judicial emergencies.