Obama drops nominee opposed by CBC

President Obama will not renominate controversial Georgia Judge Michael Boggs for a federal judgeship, in a win for Democrats who had fought the nomination.

{mosads}Congressional Democrats, particularly members of the Congressional Black Caucus, had worked against Boggs’s nomination because of his past stances on issues like civil rights.

Boggs was initially nominated to be a federal district judge in Georgia as part of a package deal negotiated with Georgia’s Republican Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson.

The senators said in a statement late Tuesday that White House chief of staff Denis McDonough informed them before Thanksgiving that Boggs would not be renominated, despite his better chances in a Republican Senate. 

“We regret the President’s decision, as we have supported Judge Boggs throughout this process and remain steadfast in our support,” Chambliss and Isakson said. “Judge Boggs has served the state with honor and integrity as an appellate and trial judge, and he has demonstrated a commitment to improving the criminal justice system through his work with the Georgia Criminal Justice Reform Council and Drug Courts.”

The controversy around Boggs stemmed from his time as a state legislator between 2000 and 2004. He twice backed legislation to keep the Confederate battle emblem on Georgia’s state flag. He also supported an amendment banning gay marriage and voted to require Georgia doctors to post online the number of abortion services they performed over the last decade. 

“It’s time to move on to a new year,” Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), who had helped lead the effort against Boggs, wrote on Twitter Wednesday. “There are many qualified attorneys in GA who should get a look for the next nominations.”