Six long-awaited nominees for federal judgeships in Georgia unanimously cleared a committee vote Thursday morning and now they head to the U.S. Senate floor.
But a seventh nominee by President Barack Obama, state Court of Appeals Judge Michael Boggs, remains in limbo as Democrats scrutinize Boggs’ record in the state House. Boggs’ two terms as a conservative South Georgia Democrat included votes on the old state flag featuring the Confederate battle emblem, abortion rights and other issues raised the ire of powerful Democrats and liberal groups.
It’s unclear when the full Senate will act on the nominees approved Thursday.
The Senate Judiciary Committee cleared Julie Carnes and Jill Pryor to sit on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Carnes now sits on the U.S. District Court in Atlanta, while Pryor is an attorney at Bondurant Mixson and Elmore.
The committee also approved the nominations Leigh Martin May, an Atlanta attorney; Mark Cohen, attorney and former chief of staff to Gov. Zell Miller; and DeKalb County state court Judge Eleanor Ross to serve on the Atlanta-based Northern District of Georgia.
In addition, the committee advanced federal prosecutor Leslie Joyce Abrams’ nomination to serve as a judge in the Middle District of Georgia, filling an Albany-based seat. Abrams’ sister, Stacey, is state House Minority Leader.
The package of nominees was the result of lengthy negotiations among the White House and Georgia’s Republican U.S. Senators, Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss. Boggs was a part of the deal, but once the senators allowed the group to move in the Judiciary Committee, Democrats raised objections.
Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the top Republican on the committee, said Thursday he hopes Boggs’ nomination moves soon.
“When this committee does consider Judge Boggs’ nomination I would hope our colleagues on both sides of the aisle would afford the Georgia senators the same deference,” Grassley said.
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