The Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed Nolan for the U.S. attorney post by voice vote with no opposition.
Nolan, who is currently an assistant U.S. attorney, was recommended for the top job by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Republican Gov. Phil Scott in June. President Donald Trump officially nominated her in September.
Leahy spoke briefly about Nolan after the confirmation vote.
“I think it’s safe to say neither Gov. Scott nor I have the foggiest idea what her politics are. We’ve never asked, we don’t really care,” Leahy said. “All we know is she’s a very well respected assistant U.S. attorney.”
The committee approved Nolan and a nominee for U.S. attorney for a North Carolina district at the same time. The two were approved with almost no discussion — notable at a time when there has been partisan division over many Trump nominees for executive and judicial branch posts.
Nolan’s nomination will now go to the Senate for a vote by the full chamber. An aide for Leahy said it’s not clear when the floor vote is likely to occur.
If confirmed, Nolan will be the first woman to hold the top U.S. Justice Department job in Vermont.
Nolan, a Vermont native, has been an assistant U.S. attorney in Vermont since 2010.
She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Vermont and studied law at Boston College. Before returning to Vermont, she worked for Boston law firm Goodwin Proctor LLC, then as a deputy in the district attorney’s office in Middlesex, Massachusetts.
Former U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont Eric Miller, an Obama appointee, resigned in February, shortly after Trump took office.
Neither Nolan nor a spokesperson for Scott immediately returned requests for comment.
