After most Republican members boycotted the original confirmation hearing on David Hamilton's nomination to fill a vacancy on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy has agreed to a second opportunity to question him. CQ Politics reports the April 29 hearing will also bring 4th Circuit nominee Andre Davis and Thomas Perez, who President Obama has named as Assistant AG for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division

While all three would be in a position to impact religious liberty, the questioning of Hamilton promises to be most interesting in that regard, due to his decision in the Indiana House prayer case, in which he determined that the Speaker's practice of opening each session with a sectarian prayer was a violation of the Establishment Clause.