Missouri Supreme Court Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh of Cape Girardeau was nominated to the federal bench Thursday by President George Bush.

Limbaugh, a former Cape Girardeau County prosecutor and circuit court judge, was named to replace U.S. District Court Judge Donald J. Stohr of the U.S. Eastern District Court of Missouri. Stohr became a senior judge last December.

Limbaugh's nomination was one of seven sent to the Senate Thursday for consideration. He must be confirmed by the Senate before he moves to the federal bench.

Reached at his Cape Girardeau home, Limbaugh declined a request for an interview about the nomination.

"Out of respect for the Senate process, I can't comment," Limbaugh said.

Limbaugh's appointment immediately won praise from Republican Sen. Kit Bond and Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt.

"Stephen Limbaugh is a top-quality judge with the character, experience and dedication to the law we need in our courts," Bond said in a written statement. "I urge my colleagues to confirm him as soon as possible."

Blunt praised Limbaugh as a highly respected attorney and judge who adheres to the constitution.

"Through a long history of service, Judge Limbaugh has proven faithful to our constitution and the rule of law," Blunt said in a prepared statement. "He understands that a judge's role is not to inject personal opinion into legal controversies, but to apply our constitution and laws as they were written."

The Eastern District covers 48 counties in northern, eastern and southeastern Missouri, plus the city of St. Louis. It has divisions based in Cape Girardeau, Hannibal and St. Louis.

Former Gov. John Ashcroft appointed Limbaugh in 1992 to the state high court, where he served as chief justice from 2001 to 2003. He was the prosecuting attorney in Cape Girardeau County from 1979 to 1982, and was appointed circuit judge in 1988 and re-elected in 1990.

Limbaugh was a partner in the law firm of Limbaugh, Limbaugh, Russell & Syler, P.C. in Cape Girardeau from 1983 through 1987.

Limbaugh, 55, received his law degree from Southern Methodist University and has a graduate degree in judicial process from the University of Virginia.

Limbaugh is one two members of the Missouri Supreme Court to be appointed by a Republican governor.

Federal judges are appointed by the president, confirmed by the U.S. Senate and serve a lifetime appointment. Generally, a senator who belongs to the same party as the president submits names to consider for federal judges and prosecutors.

Limbaugh's father, Stephen Limbaugh Sr., has been a federal judge in the Eastern Missouri District since 1983 and became a senior judge in 1996.

Stephen Limbaugh Jr. is a cousin of conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh.