President Joe Biden on Tuesday nominated a former Douglas County Court judge and current federal magistrate judge to fill a vacancy in the U.S. District Court for the State of Nebraska.
If confirmed by the Senate, Susan Bazis will fill a vacancy on the court left by U.S. District Judge John Gerrard, who assumed senior status — essentially a partial retirement — in February 2022. U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer said in a statement that she first recommended Bazis as a potential pick for the federal judgeship to Biden in January.
“Her broad experience in both criminal and civil affairs will continue to serve our state and its people well,” Fischer said. “I encourage all of my Senate colleagues to support her nomination.”
U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts also supported Bazis’ nomination, saying in a statement that he “applaud(s) Senator Fischer for working with the president to nominate a qualified and well-respected Nebraskan to the federal bench.”
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Bazis was selected to join the federal bench as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in 2017. Magistrate judges serve eight-year, renewable terms and are responsible for the management of most pretrial proceedings in federal criminal and civil matters. Unlike other federal judges, magistrates are not appointed by the president and do not require Senate confirmation.
Prior to joining the federal judiciary, Bazis spent about a decade as a Douglas County Court judge. Before that, she worked in various roles in private practice and, briefly, as an assistant public defender in Douglas County. She is a 1993 graduate of the Creighton University Law School.
Bazis’ nomination is one of five U.S. District judge nominations made by Biden on Tuesday. This round of nominees caught the attention of Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law who studies federal judicial nominations, because they are all from states with two Republican senators: Nebraska, Texas, Wyoming and Utah.
Tobias said this round of nominations shows that the White House has been making a concerted effort to work with Republican senators to fill federal court vacancies in their states, as evidenced by the endorsement of Bazis by Fischer and Ricketts. Republican senators in Utah and Texas have also thrown their support behind Biden’s judicial nominations.
With the support of Nebraska’s senators, Tobias expects Bazis’ confirmation process to go smoothly. He anticipates that confirmation proceedings will begin sometime in January or February.
After a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the committee will vote on Bazis’ nomination. Following approval by the committee, her nomination will head to the Senate floor for a final vote.
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of December 2023
Volunteers unload and carry at Omaha National Cemetery on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. They are to be placed on the graves of veterans for a Wreaths Across America event on Saturday.
Celeste Butler and Sherman Wells stand for a photo outside the Spencer Homes public housing apartments at 26th Avenue and Spencer Street in Omaha on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
Nebraska’s C.J. Wilcher (0) celebrates a play while on the bench in the Michigan State vs. Nebraska men’s basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. Nebraska won the game 77-70.
Connie Greger talks about the movie rental business next to her the Rivoli Theater located at the 533 Main St, on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. Her family has owned the theater since 1979.
Fans line up outside for the Nebraska and Arkansas match during the NCAA volleyball tournament Elite Eight at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023.
Nebraska’s Lexi Rodriguez (8), facing hugs Ally Batenhorst (14) after defeating Arkansas during an NCAA volleyball tournament Elite Eight match at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023.
Nebraska Head Coach John Cook cheers a point late in the fourth set against Arkansas during an NCAA volleyball tournament Elite Eight match at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023.
Cade Ziola poses for a portrait at Omaha Skutt on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
Creighton head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth celebrates with her team following the second round NCAA volleyball tournament match against Minnesota at Sokol Arena in Omaha home on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. Creighton won the match in three sets.
Kiro Tureaud, 3, of Bellevue, visits with Santa Claus during the 13th annual Christmas in the Village along North 24th Street in Omaha home on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023.
Creighton players lift Ellie Bolton (1) to celebrate a Creighton ace serve against Colgate during the first round of the NCAA volleyball tournament at Sokol Arena on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.
Creighton’s Sky McCune (3) serves against Colgate during the first round of the NCAA volleyball tournament at Sokol Arena on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.
Colgate’s Abby Shadwick (8) dives for the ball in front of Taylor Cigna (16) and Carlie Rzeszotarski (12) against Creighton during the first round of the NCAA volleyball tournament at Sokol Arena on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.
From left: Creighton’s Ava Martin (8), Kiara Reinhardt (5), Kendra Wait (15) and Ellie Bichelmeyer (10) celebrate winning the first set over Colgate during the first round of the NCAA volleyball tournament at Sokol Arena on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.
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