By Alabama Public Radio
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions says Bill Pryor's temporary appointment as a federal judge could be made permanent next year because the U.S. Senate will have four more Republicans than it did this year. Sessions said Thursday he expects the White House to re-nominate Pryor to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. And the Mobile Republican says that could trigger another debate in the Senate about whether to confirm Pryor for the lifetime post. Pryor is Alabama's former attorney general. He was placed on the bench by President Bush during a holiday break in February. Opponents in the Senate had prevented Pryor's confirmation from coming to a floor vote. His term expires at the end of next year unless the Senate takes action.