Nomination faces key vote

[Freddie Stubbs]

If confirmed, Marcia Cooke would become the first black woman appointed to a federal judgeship in Florida.

BY GARY FINEOUT, FRANK DAVIES AND TERE FIGUERAS

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Republicans trying to nudge along judicial nominations made by President Bush will force Democrats today to take a potentially embarrassing vote on stalling the appointment of the first black woman to a federal judgeship in Florida.

Last week, Senate Republicans set in motion today's scheduled vote to close off debate on the appointment of Marcia Cooke, an assistant Miami-Dade County Attorney and the former chief inspector general for Gov. Jeb Bush.

A successful vote for the Republicans would force a final vote on Cooke's nomination, hastening her ascent to bench of the Southern District of Florida, which stretches from Fort Pierce to Key West.

Cooke is caught in a Democratic fight to gain more control over judicial nominations by blocking confirmation votes on even noncontroversial nominees like Cooke.

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