Senate Fills DC Appeals Court Seat

First nominee since changes to filibuster rules

The U.S. Senate confirmed Washington lawyer Patricia Millett to a seat on a federal appeals court that handles some of the nation's biggest business cases.

The vote was 56-38.

Confirmation was opposed by most Republicans who argued that the caseload of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit isn't sufficient to justify filling its open seats. Two Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voted to confirm Millett.