The Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission has been making recommendations to Wisconsin's United States senators since 1979.
According to Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution, the president "shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint" federal judges. The president also appoints United States attorneys. By tradition, the president defers to the recommendations of the home state's U.S. senators for these positions.
In 1979, Wisconsin's two United States senators, William Proxmire and Gaylord Nelson, established the Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission, a tradition that has continued to the present day. Democratic and Republican senators have used the commission for federal judicial and U.S. attorney vacancies, under both Republican and Democratic administrations
Inquiries and
correspondence regarding the Federal Nominating Commission should be directed to
Lisa Roys, Advocacy and Access to Justice Director, State Bar of Wisconsin at (608) 250-6128.
