The Senate has confirmed Ohio appeals court Judge Matthew R. Byrne to a lifetime seat on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
Byrne was approved Monday in a 52-45 vote after the Senate narrowly advanced his nomination the previous evening.
President Donald Trump nominated Byrne earlier this year for the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael H. Watson.
Byrne currently serves on Ohio’s Twelfth District Court of Appeals, where he has sat since winning election in 2020.
Before joining the bench, Byrne spent roughly a decade practicing employment law.
Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, told the Senate Judiciary Committee that Byrne had participated in more than 800 appeals and written hundreds of majority, concurring, and dissenting opinions.
Husted described Byrne as hardworking, thoughtful, and fair while praising his commitment to the rule of law.
Byrne’s record also drew attention because of his past involvement with organizations opposing abortion.
He has been affiliated with groups including Ohio Right to Life, Cincinnati Right to Life, Warren County Right to Life, the Center for Christian Virtue, and the Federalist Society.
Byrne also previously served on the board of a pregnancy center opposed to abortion.
The final confirmation vote was 52 votes in favor and 45 against.
Article III federal judges receive lifetime tenure once confirmed by the Senate.
Byrne’s confirmation adds another Trump nominee to the federal bench during the president’s second term.
This comes as Senate leaders are keeping the chamber in Washington, D.C., this week for a final legislative push before lawmakers return home.
Majority Leader John Thune filed procedural motions Monday targeting utility costs, congressional stock trading, healthcare rules, and a Cabinet nomination.
The Senate also completed work Monday on the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, passing the measure 77-22.
The college sports bill establishes national rules for athlete compensation, transfers, scholarships, medical coverage, and name-image-likeness agreements.
The measure now heads to the House, which must act before the current Congress ends for the bill to survive.
Thune’s next major target is H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, already approved overwhelmingly by the House.
The House passed that bill 417-3 on September 16, with 210 Republicans and 206 Democrats voting yes.
The legislation addresses electricity infrastructure costs created by enormous data centers and other facilities consuming at least 100 megawatts.
It requires state regulators to consider standards making qualifying large-load customers cover incremental generation, transmission, and distribution upgrades.
Republicans have highlighted the measure while arguing households should not subsidize power infrastructure built primarily for major technology companies.
Senator John Kennedy summarized that argument by saying, “you’ve got to pay your own electricity.”
Senator Josh Hawley said Missouri residents fear data centers could consume farmland while pushing household electricity bills sharply higher.
Democrats opposing immediate passage say the House proposal remains voluntary because states only must consider the federal standard.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the measure “a fraud” and argued Democrats have proposed a stronger mandatory alternative.
Senator Chris Van Hollen called the House bill “a little step forward” while arguing Congress should impose tougher protections.
Republicans dispute that criticism and say Democrats blocked a bipartisan affordability bill that had attracted 417 House votes.
Senator John Cornyn accused Schumer of focusing on election politics rather than the substance of the data-center legislation.
Thune filed cloture on the motion to proceed, setting up a Wednesday test requiring 60 votes to advance debate.
If cloture succeeds, senators could offer amendments unless leaders negotiate an agreement limiting debate and speeding final passage.
Another bill in Thune’s queue is H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act.
The House passed that legislation 232-198 in July, with 218 Republicans and 13 Democrats voting for passage.
The bill generally bars lawmakers, spouses, and dependent children from purchasing individual stocks while covered by the restrictions.
It requires advance public notice before covered individuals sell certain investments, generally between seven and fourteen days beforehand.
Violations could trigger substantial financial penalties and forfeiture of profits, according to the House-passed text.
The House package also contains federal voter-identification provisions, an addition that helped produce a sharply partisan House vote.
Thune filed cloture on proceeding to that bill Monday, but the Senate has not yet taken the procedural vote.
Tuesday’s schedule also includes S.J.Res.197, a Democratic effort targeting a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rule.
The resolution would disapprove the 2027 Affordable Care Act payment-parameters rule and Basic Health Program provisions.
Senators were scheduled to vote Tuesday afternoon on whether to proceed to that resolution.
Thune also filed cloture on Keith Sonderling’s nomination to serve as secretary of labor.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
