Tomorrow (Tuesday, April 4) the Senate will vote on the nomination of Michael Chagares to the Third Circuit. As part of a package deal with New Jersey’s Democratic senators that also involved three district judge nominees, President Bush nominated Chagares on January 26, 2006 to fill the seat that Michael Chertoff vacated in becoming DHS Secretary. Chagares’s hearing before the Judiciary Committee took place on March 14, and he was favorably reported out of committee last Thursday, March 30.

Chagares, who served as a federal prosecutor for 14 years, is 43, so he should be on the Third Circuit for a long time. The circumstances surrounding his nomination and the fast pace of his confirmation make me suspicious, but let’s hope he’ll be an outstanding judge.