COVINGTON — Fort Thomas resident David Bunning will be confirmed as a federal district judge shortly after Congress returns Jan. 23 from its winter recess, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., predicted Wednesday.

        “I think it will happen as soon as we go back in,” Mr. McConnell, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in an interview.

        However, Mimi Devlin, a spokeswoman for Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said Wednesday that a vote of the committee on Mr. Bunning's nomination had not been scheduled.

        Mr. Bunning, the son of Kentucky's other U.S. Senator, Southgate Republican Jim Bunning, is a U.S. attorney in Covington. He was nominated by President Bush as a federal judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

        During a Dec. 10 hearing on the nomination before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, David Bunning, 35, received some criticism for his level of experience, having practiced law only 10 years.

        He was rated “not qualified” by the American Bar Association's judiciary committee, which determined Mr. Bunning doesn't have the experience to serve as a federal judge.

        But there was conflicting testimony from ABA lawyers during Mr. Bunning's hearing. While one of the association's lawyers who investigated Mr. Bunning's background questioned his experience and educational credentials, a second ABA lawyer said he was qualified.

        Mr. McConnell also said Mr. Bunning's candidacy was buoyed by the testimony of three federal district judges from the Eastern District of Kentucky who spoke on his behalf: Judge Henry Wilhoit, the senior federal judge in the Eastern District, Judge Karl Forester and Judge Joseph Hood.

        “We had an excellent hearing,” Mr. McConnell said. “David did well. The federal district judges from Kentucky who came and testified for him did well.”

Fights brew over use of eminent domain
Law is 'last resort,' Newport officials say
School officials unveil $1B building plan
Luken to speak on city's state
Pair indicted in death of 3-year-old
Fight to halt new YMCA loses round
Former Mariemont schools head dies at 83
Hamilton Co.'s future lies in past
Judge won't step down from trial
Old book holds 1911 message
Radio host wins Round 1
Tristate A.M. Report
PULFER: The Maisonette
Accident at plant severs man's leg
Hamilton to Nuxhall: You're a champ
Alert teller, officer uncover counterfeit ring, police say
Fat Tuesday party to help charities
Four schools' test scores slip
Gambling issue comes to Capitol
Kentucky News Briefs
L&N found fit for new life
Ludlow to swear in Murphy tonight as its new police chief
McConnell predicts Bunning judgeship
Racetrack sends money to lawmakers
Rezoning key to auto dealerships