Now that Republicans have reassumed control of the U.S. Senate, they are promising quick consideration of President Bush's judicial nominees, a process which was bottled up in political posturing by Tom Daschle (D-SD).

Justice Deborah Cook, an Akron Republican, is awaiting confirmation to the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and her confirmation would raise the opportunity for Gov. Bob Taft to nominate a replacement.

Republican Gov. Bob Taft actively pushed for Cook's nomination to the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. He said he
would replace her with someone sharing her judicial approach.

"I would want to appoint to the court someone like Justice Cook who
believes in interpreting the law, who believes in judicial restraint," Taft
said Thursday, Nov. 7.