WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate last week took up two of President Trump’s appointments to the 4^th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Both of Alabama’s senators – Republican Richard Shelby and Democrat Doug Jones – joined the majority to confirm the appointments.

The Senate also unanimously agreed to condemn President Trump’s attacks on the U.S. news media.

Here’s the detail on how Alabama’s senators voted on major issues in the week ending Aug.17. The House was in recess.

SENATE

Judge Marvin Quattlebaum

Voting 62 for and 28 against, the Senate on Aug. 16 confirmed A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr., a federal judge in the district of South Carolina, for a seat on the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals based in Richmond, Virginia. The court hears appeals from trial-level federal courts in Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Quattlebaum, 54, was an attorney in private practice before becoming a district court judge five months ago.

Counting the Julius Richardson confirmation (below), the Senate has now confirmed 26 of President Trump’s appellate nominees and the same number of his appointees to federal district courts. Overall, the federal judiciary has about 180 appellate judgeships on its 13 circuit courts and nearly 2,800 district court judgeships.

Commenting on the Quattlebaum and Richardson votes, John Cornyn, R-Texas, said: “Today we will confirm two more appellate judges, bringing our total to 26 since the Trump administration began. This has been one of the hallmarks of the president and of our agenda, and it is critically important.”

No senator spoke against the nominee.

A yes vote was to confirm Quattlebaum.

Voting yes: Richard Shelby, R, and Doug Jones, D.

Voting no: None.

Judge Julius Richardson

Voting 81 for and eight against, the Senate on Aug. 16 confirmed Julius N. Richardson, 41, a federal prosecutor based in Columbia, South Carolina, for a seat on the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Richardson and Judge Marvin Quattlebaum (above) become the newest members of the 15-judge circuit court, which hears appeals from trial-level federal courts in Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said: “Current and former peers in the U.S. attorney’s office say (Richardson) has a well-earned reputation for excellent preparation, good judgment, fairness and hard work.”

No senator spoke against the nominee.

A yes vote was to confirm Richardson.

Voting yes: Shelby, Jones.

Voting no: None.

Affirmation of Free Press in America

The Senate on Aug. 16 unanimously agreed to a measure (S Res 607) condemning President Trump’s attacks on the U.S. news media, stating that the press is not the enemy of the people as Trump avers and affirming “the vital and indispensable role that the free press serves” to advance “the most basic and cherished democratic norms and freedoms of the United States.”

There was no debate or record vote on the measure, which was adopted by unanimous consent.

KEY VOTES AHEAD

The Senate will vote on the 2019 Department of Defense budget and other appropriations bills in the week of Aug. 20, while the House will continue in recess.