Appeals Court Upholds Judicial Pick by Bush

A federal appeals court in Atlanta ruled that President Bush did not overstep his authority when he appointed William Pryor to the bench while the Senate was on a holiday break.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a challenge by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), who argued that the Alabama judge’s appointment to the same court was an end-run around the Senate’s right to confirm or reject the president’s judicial nominees.

Pryor was appointed to the 11th Circuit during the Presidents Day recess in February, after the Senate refused twice to bring his nomination to a vote.