The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Republican state representative and former federal prosecutor Bill Mercer to U.S. District Court bench in Montana.

The confirmation came amid a bitter impasse in the Senate that’s led to the second-longest federal government shutdown to date. Democrats finished a filibuster that went more than 22 hours before eventually moving onto the vote for several judicial nominations, which likewise saw some procedural disagreements.

Montana’s two Republican U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy applauded Mercer’s time in public service in a joint statement following the vote on Wednesday.

“Throughout his extensive legal career and years of public services, Bill has represented Montana’s interests very well,” Daines said in a floor speech before the voting b

See Full Page