The nomination of Katherine Polk Failla to the Southern District bench cleared the U.S. Senate's Judiciary Committee yesterday. Failla was endorsed by voice vote that covered five White House nominations to the federal courts and sets up her consideration by the full Senate.
Failla, a Southern District assistant U.S. attorney since 2000, has headed the office's criminal appeals unit for the past four years. If confirmed, Failla will fill the active slot vacated last December when Judge Denise Cote (See Profile) took senior status. Failla's confirmation would leave five openings on the Southern District Bench, four of which have nominees pending.
