Because Democrats hold a 10-9 majority on the panel, Southwick needs the support of at least one Democrat to move his nomination for a seat on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals out of the committee and to the full Senate. All nine Republicans on the committee are expected to support Southwick.

Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, a senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee, on Thursday urged the Senate to move on Southwick's nomination. He warned that a failure to do so "will lead to even more antagonism" between Senate Democrats and Republicans.

Hatch called Southwick "a sterling, good man" who did not deserve to have his nomination derailed.

"I hope my colleagues will stop this tragedy," Hatch said.

Southwick's nomination vote in the committee was postponed for a fifth time this week as his supporters try to bolster support for the candidate.

We need more time to get the votes to pass him out," said Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the highest-ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee.

A retired Mississippi Court of Appeals judge, Southwick, 57, has come under criticism from a number of civil rights and human rights groups that have questioned some of his rulings.

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