The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday unanimously approved the nomination David Barlow, an aide to conservative Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) to be Utah’s U.S. Attorney.
The nomination now goes to the full Senate.
Barlow has been a general counsel and chief judiciary counsel to Lee since he took office in January 2009. Lee is an insurgent who won his seat after incumbent Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah) was knocked out of the running during a GOP selection process.
He would replace interim U.S. Attorney Carlie Christensen, who has served there since her former boss, Bush administration appointee Brett L. Tolman, stepped down in December 2009.
The White House’s choice disappointed some local Democrats, who expressed frustration that Obama was ignoring many of the state’s talented Democratic attorneys.
