WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked President Barack Obama's nominee for a judgeship on a key U.S. appeals court that John Roberts vacated six years ago when he became U.S. Supreme Court chief justice.
On a 54-45 vote, Obama's Democrats fell short of the 60 votes needed to end a procedural roadblock against Caitlin Halligan, a former chief appellate lawyer for New York state.
(Reporting by David Ingram and Thomas Ferraro)