Final votes may be close on medical marijuana bill

GOP Senate OKs Obama judicial nominee for Tennessee

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-run Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama's nominee for a federal district judgeship in Tennessee. But the GOP blockade against filling the Supreme Court vacancy is continuing. Senators voted 92-0 Monday to approve Waverly Crenshaw for the lifetime post. It's the first judgeship the Senate has filled since Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died Feb. 13. Officials have labeled the Middle Tennessee District vacancy a "judicial emergency" because of the number of cases pending there. Crenshaw is backed by both of Tennessee's GOP senators, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker. Republicans are still refusing to consider Merrick Garland, Obama's nominee for Supreme Court. Crenshaw may be among the last Obama-picked judges the Senate approves, since Republicans are expected to stop considering nominations in the final months of his presidency.