CHEYENNE - The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously endorsed Kelly Rankin's nomination for U.S. attorney for Wyoming Thursday, according to a spokeswoman for Sen. Mike Enzi.

The Senate could confirm Rankin before adjourning for the July 4 holiday, but may schedule the vote for after the senators return from their states, said Elly Pickett, Enzi's press secretary.

Rankin, 40, is a career prosecutor at the county and federal levels. A native of Sheridan, he received bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Wyoming.

In June 2007 Enzi, the state's senior U.S. senator, forwarded to the White House the names of Rankin and two other nominees for the U.S. attorney's job. President Bush didn't nominate Rankin until April 18.

Because the allowable term of interim U.S. Attorney John Green expired, U.S. District Judge William Downes last month appointed Rankin as U.S. attorney.

The move allows Rankin to serve in the post until his appointment is confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

The federal law is used primarily when a president is finishing out his elected term of office, Powell said.

Only seven attorneys applied for the position, which is a political appointment. The unusually small number was attributed to the possibility that the appointment could be short lived with the change in the administration next January.

Rankin will work out of the main U.S. attorney's office in Cheyenne. He has been working out of the Casper office since he became an assistant U.S. attorney in 2003.

When the president nominated Rankin last month, Enzi said he hoped the Senate Judiciary Committee would move quickly to approve the nomination. Once out of committee, Rankin's nomination will move to the full Senate for confirmation.

Contact Joan Barron at joan.barron@trib.com or by phone at 307-632-1244.