Idaho’s Senators Say They Are Interviewing Women for Judge’s Post

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Following reports that Idaho's U.S. senators had narrowed a search for a federal judicial appointment down to four men, the senators insist that they are interviewing both men and women.

The Spokesman Review newspaper in Spokane, Washington, reports that Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo said Thursday that they both have legal backgrounds and are handling the search appropriately.

On Tuesday, the newspaper reported that they were only interviewing four men despite applications from at least five prominent female attorneys, including the state's U.S. attorney and a U.S. magistrate.

University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias tracks federal judicial nominations and says he is disappointed in the senators' lack of transparency. He said people who work in the federal system know best who would make a good federal judge.