The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee plans to have a confirmation hearing Wednesday for a local judge.
President George W. Bush nominated East Central District Judge Ralph Erickson last year for a federal judgeship in eastern North Dakota.
Erickson is in line to succeed incumbent U.S. District Judge Rodney Webb of Fargo, who has taken senior status.
"The judicial situation in the eastern part of North Dakota is particularly urgent since the federal district judgeship is now open," U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan said
"I'm confident Judge Erickson will impress the Senate Judiciary Committee members as a fine candidate for the open judgeship, just as he has impressed me."
ADVERTISEMENT
Dorgan said he expects to accompany Judge Erickson to the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
During the hearing, Erickson will give an opening statement and then committee members will ask him questions about his judicial record, opinions he has written and his positions on certain issues.
Erickson has worked as a state district judge in Fargo since 1995.
He graduated from the University of North Dakota Law School and Jamestown (N.D.) College.
Typically, the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on nominees seven to 10 days after confirmation hearings. Nominees confirmed by the committee are then sent to the full Senate for a vote.
