Deal helps 3 nominees, may hinder others

WASHINGTON — Priscilla Owen appeared to be the immediate winner in the congressional compromise that cleared the way for Senate confirmation of some of President Bush's judicial appointments.

Who wins

Owen and the others who will get votes:

• Owen, a justice on the Texas Supreme Court, nominated by Bush for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in New Orleans. A Sunday-school teacher who graduated at the top of her law-school class, Owen had been repeatedly blocked by Democrats who labeled her an ultraconservative activist and faulted her rulings against consumers, working people and minors who want abortions.

• William Pryor Jr., nominated for the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Atlanta. Pryor is a former Alabama attorney general whose comments and writings on abortion and homosexuality have irked Democrats.

• Janice Rogers Brown, nominated for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She is an African-American member of the California Supreme Court who had been blocked by Democrats for nearly three years for what they say is her conservative activism.

Who loses

The agreement made no commitment to end the filibusters that have blocked votes on these nominations:

• William Myers III, nominated for the 9th U.S. Circuit of Appeals, based in San Francisco. A former Interior Department solicitor, Myers is opposed by Democrats and environmentalists for what they say was an anti-environment agenda at Interior, and as a private lawyer and lobbyist for cattle and mining interests.

• Henry Saad, nominated for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Cincinnati. Saad ran into trouble because Michigan's two Democratic senators argued that the GOP-controlled Senate never allowed confirmation hearings for President Clinton's nominees to that court.

Future unclear

Those not included in the agreement:

• Richard Griffin, for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Opposed by Michigan Democrats because Clinton's nominees to that court were never given a confirmation hearing by Republicans.

• David McKeague, for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Also opposed by Michigan Democrats because Clinton's nominees to that court never got a hearing.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said he expected both to be confirmed.