US Senate confirms Loretta Lynch as attorney general News
US Senate confirms Loretta Lynch as attorney general

[JURIST] The US Senate [official website] on Thursday voted 56-43 to confirm Loretta Lynch [official profile] to serve as Attorney General, establishing her as the first black woman to lead the Justice Department [official website]. Lynch was nominated by the Senate Judiciary Committee [official website] 188 days prior on November 8 but had her confirmation hearing delayed up by a human trafficking bill [text; summary], which was passed Wednesday. Controversy arose [JURIST report] in March over language in the bill that prevented funds from being used to pay for abortions. US President Barack Obama welcomed the confirmation [press release], saying it “ensures that we are better positioned to keep our communities safe, keep our nation secure, and ensure that every American experiences justice under the law.”

Senate confirmations hearings for Lynch took place [JURIST report] in late January. Obama formally nominated Lynch to serve as the next attorney general in November after Eric Holder announced his resignation [JURIST reports] in September.