The U.S. Senate has approved the nomination of Vermont state Judge Christina Reiss to become the state’s next federal judge.
The office of Sen. Patrick Leahy says the Senate approved the confirmation Saturday night during a rare weekend session in which senators also voted to proceed to debate on federal health reform legislation.
The 47-year-old Reiss, who is from Essex Junction, will be the first woman to serve on Vermont’s federal district court.
She will succeed U.S. District Court Judge J. Garvan Murtha. Murtha is taking senior status, meaning he will no longer hear cases full time.