Federal judge allows Arizona to implement law banning abortions due to genetic abnormality

[In It to Win It]

13. Yes but he couldn't have been confirmed without the support of the home state senators

In order to be confirmed in the first place, the nominee needed to have the “thumbs up” from the two republican senators from Arizona. IIRC, Harry Reid was honoring blue slips for District Court nominees.

This judge happened to be one that made it through John McCain and Jeff Flake.

ETA: If this particular nominee didn't have John McCain's and/or Jeff Flake's support, his nomination would have been withdrawn. My guess is that this was some sort of deal they worked out to get this judge nominated and confirmed. John McCain would have never let Obama nominate a more liberal judge to a District Court in Arizona. If the circumstances were different, I think Obama would have nominated a more liberal judge if he could have gotten one through the confirmation process.