Hispanic Is Among 3 Backed for U.S. Bench

Two Illinois Appellate Court justices and a Chicago lawyer, whocould become the state's first Hispanic federal judge, have beenrecommended to fill vacancies on the U.S. bench in Northern Illinois.

Appellate Court Justices Alan Grieman and Blanche Manning andlawyer Ruben Castillo, who were recommended by Democratic SenatorsPaul Simon and Carol Moseley-Braun Tuesday, will be screened by theJustice Department. If President Clinton concurs with therecommendations, he will nominate the three candidates forconsideration by the Senate.

The candidates were the first to emerge from a new selectionprocess set up by Simon to replace the traditional candidatescreening by …