CARL TOBIAS The New Postpartisan Selection of Federal Judges: President Obama Displays His Commitment to Ending the Confirmation Wars FindLaw guest columnist and U. Richmond law professor Carl Tobias discusses President Obama's recent nomination of U.S. District Judge David Hamilton to an Indiana-based seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, arguing that this nomination is a strong sign that President Obama intends to embrace a less partisan judicial confirmation process than we have seen for 20 years. Tobias criticizes President Bush for having failed to consult with local Senators on nominations, for choosing conservative nominees who could not command a consensus, and for even going so far to renominate candidates whom Senators who were his fellow Republicans opposed. Based on the Hamilton nomination, Tobias suggests that President Obama may follow a new model, one in which the President seeks out nominees acceptable to local Senators of both parties prior to making a nomination, and declines to try to force controversial candidates through the Senate.