By Bruce Schreiner
The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE - University of Kentucky law professor John Rogers won confirmation to a seat on a federal appeals court in Cincinnati, nearly a year after President Bush sent his nomination to the Senate.

Kentucky Sens. Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning said Friday that Mr. Rogers would make an outstanding judge on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Rogers' confirmation fills one of seven vacancies on an appeals court that is "woefully understaffed," Mr. McConnell said.

The Senate approved Mr. Rogers by a voice vote Thursday night.

Mr. Rogers could not be reached for comment Friday.

Allan Vestal, dean of the UK College of Law, said Mr. Rogers would be a good addition to the appellate court, which hears cases from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.

The 54-year-old has a conservative judicial philosophy, Mr. Vestal said. "But at the same time, I think he will be very open to creative arguments," he said. "He'll just be rigorous in assessing those arguments."

Mr. Rogers is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Stanford University and received his law degree from the University of Michigan. He joined the UK faculty in 1978.

He was an appellate attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Justice Department from 1974 to 1978. He also served as a visiting professor at the Justice Department from 1983 to 1985. Twice he has been a Fulbright senior lecturer in China.