Sessions has been a favorite of conservative court-watchers to assume the ranking slot on judiciary -- largely because they believe that with his experience as a federal prosecutor he will provide a counter-weight to Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), the committee's chairman and a former prosecutor himself.
"We'd like to have someone who can really take on Leahy," said Curt Levey, executive director of the Committee for Justice, a group that lobbies for conservative nominees.
Specter's party shift has made the prospects of a Republican filibuster of President Obama's first high court nominee less likely. Still, Sessions will be charged with making the GOP's case against the nominee, should that be necessary. Obama attempted to head off such an assault in advance, consulting Monday with Specter and Republican Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah on prospective nominees.
"He asked for recommendations, and I told him I would think it over and get back to him," Specter said after the call.
Sessions will take the judiciary post as part of a complicated arrangement that involves Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa). Grassley has more seniority on the panel than Sessions, but cannot assume the post because he holds the ranking spot on the finance committee. Under the deal, Grassley would take over the top Republican post on judiciary in the 112th Congress, a year and a half from now.
Sessions' stance on immigration also could play an important role as the Senate gears up to consider a massive policy overhaul.
He's a major proponent of E-Verify, the voluntary government program that allows employers to certify whether prospective workers are legally authorized to work in the United States. During the debate over the federal stimulus bill in February, Sessions led a failed bid to add amendments that would have forced federal contractors receiving stimulus funds to use the E-Verify program.
"Now we have the No. 1 champion for the American workers on immigration issues being the ranking member," said Roy Beck, executive director of NumbersUSA, an immigration-reduction advocacy group.
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joliphant@latimes.com
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BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX
Jeff Sessions
Born: Dec. 24, 1946, Hybart, Ala.
Education: Bachelor's degree at Huntingdon College, law degree at University of Alabama
Religion: Methodist
Military service: Army Reserve, 1973-86
Offices: Named U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama by President Reagan in 1981. Nominated for a federal judgeship by Reagan in 1986 but was not confirmed by the Senate. Served as Alabama attorney general, 1994-96. Elected to U.S. Senate in 1996 and now serving his third term.
Committees: Armed services, budget, energy, judiciary
Source: Los Angeles Times
