VIRGINIA BRIEFING

Board Chairman Corey A. Stewart said checks should be done "if there is any question" about identity. (Tracy A Woodward - The Washington Post)

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-- Bill Brubaker

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT

Senate Confirms Nomination of Va. Justice

A Virginia Supreme Court justice will fill an open seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond.

G. Steven Agee was unanimously confirmed yesterday by the U.S. Senate. The 4th Circuit, which handles cases from federal courts in Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, has handled some of the country's biggest terrorism cases. Agee will fill the seat of J. Michael Luttig, who resigned in 2006.

President Bush nominated Agee in March and asked the Senate to consider his nomination swiftly because of the court's heavy caseloads and because five of the 15 seats are vacant.

Agee has served as a Virginia Supreme Court justice since 2003. He served as a judge on the state Court of Appeals from 2001 to 2003.

-- Associated Press

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS