Sessions likely to be Judiciary GOP leader

WASHINGTON, May 4 (UPI) -- Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., is poised to take over the ranking member position on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Capitol insiders said.

Sessions and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, reached a deal that will allow Sessions to take the top GOP slot on the committee from Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., whose exodus from the Republican Party last week left the committee without a ranking member, The Hill reported Monday.

Under terms of the deal, Sessions will serve as ranking member until the 112th Congress opens next year, when he will take over the ranking member post on the Senate Budget Committee, replacing current ranking member Judd Gregg, R-N.H., who is retiring at the end of the 111th Congress.

Grassley, the top Republican on the Finance Committee, will become ranking member on the Judiciary Committee for the next congressional session, sources told the Washington publication. He has served on that committee since entering the Senate.

The seven Republicans remaining on the Judiciary Committee after Specter's departure are scheduled to vote on Session's move this week, the Hill reported. Once committee members vote, the decision will go to the full Republican Conference, which usually supports the committee members' decisions.