Steve Six
TOPEKA, Kan. (Legal Newsline) -- U.S. Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, both Republicans from Kansas, say they oppose former state Attorney General Steve Six's nomination to a federal appeals court.
Six, a Democrat, was appointed to district court judge in 2005 by former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who now serves as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Barack Obama.
Sebelius, a Democrat, then appointed Six to state attorney general in December 2007. Six lost his seat in the November general election to Republican Derek Schmidt. Since January, Six has worked as a partner at the law firm of Stevens & Brand.
"After thoroughly reviewing Mr. Six's record and his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will not support his nomination to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. I have urged my colleagues on the committee to vote against his nomination," Roberts said in a statement Thursday.
Moran issued a similar statement Thursday: "After thoroughly reviewing Mr. Six's qualifications and testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will not be supporting President Obama's nominee to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals."
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote Friday on Six's judicial nomination to serve on the 10th Circuit.
Others have expressed their opposition to his nomination, including those pro-life abortion groups Kansans for Life and the National Right to Life Committee Inc., based in Washington D.C.
Obama nominated Six to the 10th Circuit on March 9.
"Steve Six has distinguished himself as a first-rate jurist with unflagging integrity and evenhandedness," Obama said in a statement at the time. "I am grateful for his service to the state of Kansas and look forward to adding his considerable wisdom and experience to the 10th Circuit Court."
From 1994 to 2005, Six worked at the Kansas City law firm of Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, first as a litigation associate from 1994 to 1998 and later as a partner from 1998 to 2005.
From 1993 to 1994, he served as a judicial law clerk to Judge Deanell R. Tacha of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Six received his law degree in 1993 from the University of Kansas School of Law, graduating second in his class. He received his undergraduate degree in 1988 from Carleton College.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by e-mail at jessica@legalnewsline.com.