Panel sends Obama judicial nominee to Senate floor

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to send U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jose Jordan of Miami to the Senate floor for a confirmation vote to fill a vacancy on the federal appeals court in Atlanta.

Jordan, 49, who was born in Cuba, would succeed Judge Susan Black, who took senior status. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over Georgia, Alabama and Florida. It is assigned 12 judges, but now has two vacancies. President Barack Obama has yet to fill the Georgia seat of former Judge Stanley Birch, who retired.