WASHINGTON -- Now that the Senate has gaveled out for the year without voting on controversial Georgia judicial nominee Michael Boggs, the focus turns back to the White House.
In order to fill the state's remaining U.S. District Court judge vacancy President Barack Obama must re-nominate Boggs -- the former conservative Democratic state legislator who might face a more sympathetic crowd in a Republican Senate -- or move on. Georgia Democratic U.S. Reps. Hank Johnson and David Scott hope he does the latter.
The two penned a letter to Obama asking him to nominate someone else, after Boggs' views on abortion, gay rights and a vote against changing the Georgia state flag prompted Democrats to issue a rare rebuke to their own party's nominee. Boggs, who serves on the Georgia Court of Appeals, was part of a compromise package with Georgia's Republican senators, and the rest were confirmed. The White House refuses to say if he will be renominated.
From the letter:
"For these reasons, we respectfully request that you refrain from re-nominating Michael P. Boggs to serve as judge in the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. There are many fine attorneys and judges in Georgia whose background and record demonstrate a commitment to equal justice under law."
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