Longtime Sacramento federal magistrate Judge Dale A. Drozd is again scheduled to get his Senate Judiciary Committee hearing next week, and local court officials hope this time the hearing actually happens.
A March hearing for Drozd was canceled, frustrating overworked Fresno judicial officials who say his confirmation is critical to the court’s operations. The hearing is scheduled Wednesday in Washington D.C.
“The vote is crucial,” U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill said. “We are cautiously optimistic for both Magistrate Judge Drozd — and the court.”
O’Neill is currently the only full-time judge in Fresno’s federal courthouse. Fellow U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii — who Drozd would replace if he eventually wins confirmation — is currently on senior status and working half-time.
When his replacement starts in Fresno, Ishii will further reduce his work to quarter-time.