Senate Republicans blocked a vote on the nomination of University of California,

Senate Republicans blocked a vote on the nomination of University of California, Berkeley, law professor Goodwin Liu to the federal appeals court in San Francisco, making Mr. Liu the first judicial nominee named by President Barack Obama to be successfully filibustered.

The move appears to doom Mr. Liu’s chances of becoming the first Asian-American on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which includes California, Hawaii, Washington and Oregon, all states with significant or growing Asian populations.

Mr. Liu has been fiercely opposed by Republicans for what they say are too-liberal legal views. The GOP may also have been wary of Mr. Liu’s age and future prospects. Just 40, he would be a prime candidate for a seat on the Supreme Court in coming years.