It turns out Brendan Johnson wasn't the only South Dakotan who wanted to be the state's next U.S. attorney.
Beadle County State's Attorney Michael Moore also applied for the job.

Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved Johnson's nomination and sent it to the Senate floor.

Moore says he thinks it was a fair process. He applied in February and says he was told in June that the Obama administration would recommend Johnson, son of U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson.  Moore says Johnson's Senate office helped him as he sought the job. He says the White House told him he was considered.

A spokeswoman for Senator Johnson, Julianne Fisher, says her boss last week asked the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman for a status update on the U.S. attorney position. Both that job and the U.S. marshal's position are pending, and Fisher says the senator had an obligation to make sure they get through the Senate and are filled.