WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) today hailed the Senate’s 88-12 confirmation of William Kayatta, Jr., of Cape Elizabeth, to serve as a judge on the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Today’s vote to install Kayatta on the bench ends a long nomination process that, regrettably, had been stalled on several occasions. Kayatta was originally nominated by the President on January 23rd, 2012, but never received a full Senate vote after being approved by the Judiciary Committee on March 29th, 2012 with strong bipartisan support. Kayatta’s nomination was reactivated by the President earlier this year and he was again passed out of the Judiciary Committee on February 7th, 2013 along strong bipartisan lines.Senator King met with Kayatta in December of 2012, and following the reactivation of his nomination, Senator King urged his colleagues to expedite the nomination process.

Following the vote, Senator King released the following statement:

“I was proud to vote in favor of Bill’s confirmation today. His installation on the First Circuit Court of Appeals, although long-awaited, is certainly a well-deserved victory – for both Bill and for Maine. I had the privilege of speaking with him on the phone immediately after the vote to congratulate him, and he expressed his gratitude, as well as his enthusiasm to begin the work of his new post. As I have long said, Bill is a brilliant lawyer and he’s extraordinarily well-qualified for the position – and I believe that the broad bipartisan support his nomination garnered today is a reflection of the Senate’s agreement. I wish Bill the very best of luck as he assumes his judgeship.”

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