Yesterday President Obama nominated Los Angeles attorney Paul Watford to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Watford is currently a partner at Munger, Tolles, and Olson LLP and previously served as an assistant U.S. Attorney.  He also  clerked for Ninth Circuit judge Alex Kozinski and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  The Sacramento Bee reports:

The choice of Watford, 44, for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals drew praise from colleagues on both sides of the political aisle and predictions that he will have a smoother path to Senate confirmation than some of the president’s more liberal nominees.

Orin Kerr also comments here.