President Barack Obama has nominated DeKalb County State Court Judge Dax Eric Lopez to fill a federal judgeship in Atlanta.
According to the White House, Lopez would be Georgia’s first Hispanic lifetime-appointed federal judge.
Lopez was just 34 in 2010 when he was appointed to the State Court bench by Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue. Before that, he was an attorney at the law firms Foltz Martin LLC; Ashe, Rafuse & Hill, LLP; and Holland & Knight. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, he also clerked for a federal judge in Puerto Rico.
Lopez must be confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate, and Georgia’s U.S. senators, Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, hold the power over whether the Judiciary Committee will take up López’s nomination.
Their initial reactions to Obama’s nomination of Lopez on Thursday were cordial but noncommittal.
“As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee,” Perdue said, “I look forward to meeting Judge Lopez and exploring his judicial philosophy during the confirmation process.”
Isakson added that he was looking forward “to meeting with Judge Lopez during the confirmation process.”
The slot on the Northern District of Georgia bench remains unfilled after last year’s battle over Judge Michael Boggs, who was blocked by Democrats because of his past views on abortion, gay rights and keeping the Confederate battle emblem on the state flag.
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