Owen Confirmed

The Senate has confirmed Priscilla Owen for a seat on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

From the New York Times:

The vote, 56 to 43, was mostly along party lines. It came a day after the Senate voted overwhelmingly to cut off debate on the nomination and give her the yes-or-no decision that her Republican backers had long sought.

Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, the Republican majority leader, said just before today's roll call that Justice Owen had shown patience and courage while waiting "longer than anyone - anyone" should have had to wait.

Interestingly, diarists at Daily Kos say that Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu was one of two Democrats who voted to confirm Owen. Robert Byrd, they say, was the other. At this writing, I have no independent confirmation of either.