[JURIST] In a 56-43 vote [Senate roll call] Wednesday, the Senate confirmed the nomination of California Supreme Court Justice Janice Rogers Brown [Independent Judiciary profile] to the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia [official website]. Brown’s nomination process began in 2003 and quickly encountered opposition from Democrats, who blocked a confirmation vote. Critics accused Brown of exhibiting hostility to government regulation and minority rights [People for the American Way report]. President Bush has called Brown "a brilliant and fair-minded jurist who is committed to the rule of law". A promise of a vote on Brown’s nomination was part of the May 23 bipartisan agreement [JURIST report] to end the showdown over judicial nominees, and reserve the filibuster for "extraordinary circumstances." The Senate has also scheduled [Senate calendar] a vote on the nomination of William Pryor [official profile] to the Eleventh Circuit for Thursday. AP has more.