It has been reported by sources that the U. S. Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines Thursday to send Goodwin Liu's controversial nomination for a federal judgeship to the full Senate.

The Washington Post has reported that the panel approved the University of California-Berkeley law professor's nomination on a 12-7 vote. No date has been set for bringing the nomination to the floor for a vote.

The Post further said that republicans oppose putting Liu on the bench, contending his history of liberal writings on legal issues makes him unfit. Liu has no previous judicial experience, having spent much of his career as an educator.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, among those opposing Liu's nomination, called him "the most controversial nominee of President Obama."

It was also noted by the report that Democrats counter that Liu's strong academic background is actually a plus and cite conservative judges, such as 7th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Richard Posner, who also were known for their controversial writings before being named to federal posts. (With Inputs from Agencies)