Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke's chief of staff is one step closer to a prestigious seat on the federal bench.
Travis McDonough's nomination to the U.S. District Court of Eastern Tennessee was approved without dissent during a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee meeting Thursday morning.
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 federal judicial nominations who teaches law at the University of Richmond.
"This is very good for him," Tobias said.
It is unclear when the final confirmation vote will be scheduled. Tobias said it could be before or after the August recess.
Only four nominees for U.S. District Court judgeships have been confirmed this year.
McDonough was nominated in November to replace Judge Curtis Collier, who recently took senior status.
Both of Tennessee's U.S. senators voiced support for McDonough on Thursday.
Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander said in a written statement that McDonough and Waverly Crenshaw, who is 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."
Republican Sen. Bob Corker said he looks forward to supporting McDonough when the vote comes to the Senate floor.
"Travis McDonough is well-respected in Chattanooga and would serve his state and country honorably in this role," Corker said in a prepared statement.
The Berke administration has not publicly commented on McDonough's appointment, and it's unclear who Berke will name as his chief of staff if McDonough moves on.
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@times freepress.com or 423-757-6673. Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon at lbrogdon @timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6481.