Sen. Joe Keavney takes Sen. Jeff Smith’s place on judiciary and has a law degree.  This is a slight positive for Dems who had been out-gunned on the committee by four Republican lawyers versus Sen. Jolie Justus, the sole Dem lawyer.   

Keaveny is said to be retaining Smith legislative aide, Stacy Morse.  But Christine Brauner, another Smith aide, is going to work for Rep. Stacey Newman.