Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy announced Wednesday that Hearings on three Michigan nominees will take place May 7 at 10 A.M. The nominees are: Helene White and Raymond Kethledge (to the Sixth Circuit), and Stephen Murphy (to Michigan’s Eastern District). Their hearings are a welcome development — if Leahy means them as downpayment on the rest of the 32 nominations pending in the Senate (ten to Circuit Courts; 22 to District judgeships).

Also today, the President nominated Michael M. Anello to be a Judge of the Southern District of California. Anello is an eminently qualified former Marine officer, local prosecutor, and private practitioner who is now a California state judge.

The clock is ticking on his confirmation hearing.