Travis McDonough's federal judgeship nomination passes Senate judiciary committee

Staff Photo by Maura Friedman/Chattanooga Times Free PressIn this file photo Travis McDonough announces an agreement had been reached between the city and the owner of the Delta Queen at a news conference in City Hall in Chattanooga.
Staff Photo by Maura Friedman/Chattanooga Times Free PressIn this file photo Travis McDonough announces an agreement had been reached between the city and the owner of the Delta Queen at a news conference in City Hall in Chattanooga.
photo Travis McDonough

Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke's chief of staff is one step closer to be confirmed to the federal bench.

Travis McDonough's nomination to the U.S. District Court of Eastern Tennessee was approved without dissent during Thursday morning's U.S. Senate judiciary committee meeting. Now the nomination heads to the Senate floor for a final vote.

McDonough's approval was confirmed with no discussion and through a voice vote, which means he is "well-respected and not controversial," said Professor Carl Tobias, an expert in the federal judicial nomination who teaches law at the University of Richmond.

"This is very good for him," Tobias said.

It is unclear when the vote to confirm or deny the appointment will be scheduled. Tobias said a vote could be brought to the floor as early as this summre if senators push for it, or it may be put off till after August recess.

There have only been four district nominees confirmed this year.

McDonough was nominated in November to replace Judge Curtis Collier, who recently took senior status.

Both of Tennessee's senators voiced support for McDonough on Thursday.

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said Thursday in a written statement that McDonough and Waverly Crenshaw, who's nominated for a judgeship in the state's Middle District, will be great additions to the bench.

"They are men of good character and good temperament, and I am glad the Judiciary Committee voted to approve the nominations so that their nominations can now be considered by the full Senate."

Todd Womack, chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, said in a phone interview Corker was also supporting both candidates. Full floor votes are not expected to be delayed, but they may still take some time.

"That will depend on the floor schedule and Senate Majority Leader [Mitch] McConnell. But Sen. Corker supports both candidates," Womack said.

The Berke administration has not publicly commented on McDonough's appointment, and it's unclear who will become Berke's chief of staff if McDonough moves on. The post is an appointed position.

McDonough, an attorney, worked in the Miller & Martin law firm from 2005 to 2013 and served as the head of the firm's litigation department from 2012 to 2013, according to newspaper archives.

He received his law degree in 1997 from Vanderbilt University Law School and his undergraduate degree in 1994 from Sewanee: The University of the South.

Contact staff writer Kate Belz at kbelz@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6673.

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