The U.S. Senate has confirmed the appointment of Kansas Supreme Court justice Nancy Moritz to the federal appeals court that handles cases from six western and Plains states.
The Senate voted 90-3 yesterday to confirm Moritz to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.
The only votes against Moritz came from Republican Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Mike Crapo and James Risch of Idaho.
Moritz grew up in Tipton, Kansas, and earned her law degree from Washburn University in 1985.
In 2004, former Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius appointed Moritz to the Kansas Court of Appeals. Moritz joined the state’s highest court in 2011, after being appointed by outgoing Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson.
President Barack Obama had nominated Moritz for the U.S. Court of Appeals last August.
Moritz will fill the vacancy Judge Deanell created in 2011 when she retired to become dean of the law school at Pepperdine University.
U.S. Senator for Kansas Jerry Moran says Moritz is well-prepared for the federal court.
