Senate confirms ‘Chip’ Campbell as federal judge for Middle TN

The U.S. Senate Tuesday voted 97-0 to confirm President Donald Trump’s nomination of Nashville attorney William “Chip” Campbell as a U.S. District Court judge for Middle Tennessee. Confirmation of three other nominees for judicial post in Tennessee is still pending.

Statements from Tennessee’s two U.S. senators:

Sen. Bob Corker: “Chip Campbell has distinguished himself as a respected attorney and community leader, and I am proud to congratulate him on his confirmation… I was honored to recommend Chip for this position, and I am glad his confirmation will help alleviate the high caseload in the Middle District.”

Sen. Lamar Alexander: “The Senate’s confirmation today of Chip Campbell to be a U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee will bring relief to a crowded docket. Since April 15, 2017, the Middle District of Tennessee has had only two full-time judges. Federal judges from other districts have been volunteering to help with the Middle District’s caseload until the two current district court judge vacancies are filled. I will push to secure confirmation as soon as possible of a second presidential nominee, Eli Richardson, who already had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.”

Further, from The Tennessean:

Campbell will replace Chief U.S. District Judge Kevin H. Sharp, who resigned last year to start and manage a Nashville office of a national civil rights and employment law firm. Sharp had been appointed to the bench by former President Barack Obama.

…Still awaiting confirmation are judicial nominees Mark Norris, Thomas L. Parker and Eli J. Richardson.

Norris, a Republican state senator who serves as the Senate majority leader, and Parker, a Memphis attorney, have been nominated for judgeships in Tennessee’s Western District, which includes Memphis… Richardson was tapped to serve as a judge in the Middle District.