Washington, D.C. – Wisconsin’s U.S. Senators, Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold, are lauding President Barack Obama’s nomination of Louis Butler, Jr. to fill a vacant seat on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.  After a slate of candidates was forwarded to Feingold and Kohl, Butler was one of two names they forwarded to the White House to consider for nomination.  Butler will now be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which both Feingold and Kohl serve.  If confirmed, Butler will replace Judge John Shabaz, who retired.

"I have no doubt that Judge Butler has the qualifications, experience and intellect that will serve him well as our next District Court judge,” Kohl said.  “We congratulate him on this nomination and look forward to helping move it through the Senate."

“I congratulate Judge Louis Butler on his nomination and look forward to helping move his nomination through the Senate,” Feingold said.  “Judge Butler has a long record of ably serving Wisconsin and I look forward to his continued service to our state in this important federal post.  I also thank President Obama for nominating Judge Butler.  His nomination is the result of a collaborative process of judicial selection that has served our state well for over a quarter century.”