BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- President Barack Obama has nominated Idaho 6th District Judge David Nye to a seat on the federal bench.
Obama announced Nye's nomination for the U.S. District Court-Idaho on Tuesday. The nomination now goes to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.
Nye, of Pocatello, was appointed to the state judgeship by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter in 2007. Previously he worked as an attorney specializing in medical malpractice and insurance law, and he earned his law degree at Brigham Young University.
Republican U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch lauded Nye's nomination, saying it was a collaborative effort and that Nye is a sound and principled jurist.
If confirmed, Nye will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge. Lodge announced his plans to retire in September 2014, but has kept working as a senior judge while the search for his successor was under way. Several other out-of-state federal judges have also been called in to help cover Idaho's federal court caseload until a new judge is appointed.
