exertion of her perceived right to do so. However, her choice is of significant consequence, as described before in the discussion of our State's policies, in that her rights to custody of her child may be significantly impacted. After intense Democratic opposition, Southwick was reported out of Committee by a 10-9 vote on August 2, 2007 when Democratic California Senator Dianne Feinstein voted with the Committee's nine Republicans to send Southwick to the full Senate with a favorable report. Southwick was confirmed by a 59–38 vote on October 24, 2007. Southwick's confirmation came almost ten months after his nomination to the Fifth Circuit and over a year after he was first nominated to a federal judgeship. Southwick was the fifth judge nominated by Bush to the Fifth Circuit and confirmed by the United States Senate. He received his commission on October 29, 2007. Southwick was sworn in as judge of the Fifth Circuit on October 30, 2007. He maintains chambers in Jackson, Mississippi. His first published opinion for the Fifth Circuit was Anthony v. United States, which was released on March 4, 2008. Southwick wrote for a unanimous three judge panel on an issue involving the valuation of private annuities for estate tax purposes. His first published dissent was in Louisiana ex rel. Caldwell v. Allstate Insurance Co., 536 F.3d 418 (5th Cir. 2008) in which Southwick dissented from the assumption of federal jurisdiction under the Class Action Fairness Act. In August 2018, Southwick found that the Texas Medical Board was entitled to qualified immunity for its unconstitutional warrantless search of a doctor's patient records, drawing an unusual concurrence dubitante from Circuit Judge Don Willett. Personal Southwick is married and has two children. He is Roman Catholic. He is a member of the Mississippi National Guard, where he has attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was deployed to Iraq in 2004–2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Bibliography Presidential Also-Rans & Running Mates, 1788-1996. Published by McFarland & Co., Jefferson, NC, 1998 (second edition) The Nominee: A Political and Spiritual Journey. Published by University Press of Mississippi, Jackson, Miss, 2013 See also George W. Bush judicial appointment controversies References External links White House Profile U.S. Department of Justice Nominee Resume Southwick Bio at the Mississippi Supreme Court Goodman, Julie, "Potential judicial nominees studied," Clarion-Ledger, January 2, 2007 Kanengiser, Andy, "Bush selection for federal appeals court post under fire," Clarion-Ledger,