The Hill News

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) has ended his obstruction of President Obama's nominee for federal appeals court.

On Friday, Menendez said he had had an "in-depth" discussion with Judge Patty Shwartz, Obama's nominee for the Third Court of Appeals, and had decided to reverse his position and support her.

"Judge Shwartz satisfactorily answered questions covering important legal topics such as current law on the rights of corporations under the First Amendment, constitutional limits on Executive Branch power and the application of heightened standards of review under the Constitution," Menendez said in a statement.  "She adequately allayed my earlier concerns and I will be returning my Blue Slip."

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