Justice Sykes' appointment moves to full Senate.

Byline: Tony Anderson

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination of Justice Diane S. Sykes to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals last Thursday. The 14-5 vote, supported by both Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold, means Sykes' nomination will move to the full Senate.

In a statement released Thursday, Sykes stated, "I am grateful for the favorable vote in the United States Senate Judiciary Committee today, and I look forward to my consideration by the full Senate."

Ten Republican senators and four Democrats, including Kohl and Feingold, voted in favor of Sykes' nomination. Five committee Democrats - Sens. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, John Edwards of North Carolina, Dianne Feinstein of California, Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and Patrick Leahy of Vermont - opposed the nomination.

In a statement to the committee prior to the vote, Kohl praised Sykes' credentials and experience. He noted her five years of service on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and seven years on the Milwaukee Circuit Court bench. He also pointed to the respect she has earned from her colleagues and the substantial number of "well qualified" recommendations she received from the American Bar Association.

"[W]e expect Justice Sykes to not only be a credit to Wisconsin, but also to administer fair justice for all who come before her," Kohl said.

Durbin led the...