The Senate votes today on a motion to proceed to the nomination of Harold Koh to be legal adviser of the State Department. [IMGCAP(1)]The vote is just the latest that Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has scheduled to try clear a backlog of executive nominations. Republicans have voiced concern over Koh, who currently serves as the dean of Yale Law School, for his views on gun control and his criticism of the Bush administration’s war on terror. Still, the nominee emerged from the Foreign Relations Committee on an unanimous vote May 13 with the support of ranking member Dick Lugar (R-Ind.).Lugar has praised Koh’s “record of service and accomplishment, his personal character, his understanding of his role as legal adviser, and his commitment to work closely with Congress,— and he called on his Senate colleagues to approve the nomination.Reid has to muster a handful of GOP supporters today to fend off a filibuster. If the procedural motion passes, a final vote on Koh’s confirmation could occur before the Senate breaks for the July Fourth recess.