Who selects the chair of the Senate judiciary committee?  I've heard
on the news that Arlen Specter is favored to hold this position when
Orrin Hatch leaves it, so I'm wondering who decides whether Specter
gets the job or not.

biophysicist..

Thanks for a very timely and interesting question.  Committee chairmen
are traditionally the majority party member with the greatest
seniority on a committee.  In 1995, the Republicans altered this to
allow for the Republicans on a committee to vote by secret ballot for
the chairman spot, regardless of the seniority.  This was also in line
with their decision to allow committee chairmen to serve in that
position for 6 years.  The current chairman, Orrin Hatch of Utah
served as the Committee Chairman from 1995-2001, so the assumption
that Specter, being the senior Republican member of the committee,
being chosen as chairman is logical.  The key issue that he, and the
Committee will face, is the nomination of Supreme Court Justices.

Thanks again for your question.  Please let me know if you need any
additional clarification.

Regards,

-THV

Search Strategy:
Senate Judiciary Committee

References:

U.S. Senate History Briefings: Committees
http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps12426/www.senate.gov/learning/brief_11.html

United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
http://judiciary.senate.gov/

Answer was very prompt and exactly what I wanted.  Additional
references provided were quite helpful.  Thank you!