President Obama will not re-nominate Georgia judge Michael Boggs to the federal bench, appeasing Democrats who slammed the judicial nominee’s position on various social issues.
“It is with regret that we announce that the president will not re-nominate Judge Michael Boggs to the United States District Court for a third time,” said Georgia Republican Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss. “We were informed of the president’s decision by Denis McDonough, the president’s chief of staff, prior to Thanksgiving. We regret the president’s decision, as we have supported Judge Boggs throughout this process and remain steadfast in our support.”
A White House official Wednesday also confirmed the president’s decision.
Boggs came under fire from leading Democrats for his previous stances on the Confederate flag, gay marriage and other social issues. Black lawmakers were particularly incensed with his nomination, but for months, Obama stood behind his pick for the federal judgeship.
Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., refused to bring Boggs’ nomination to the floor of the upper chamber, even as he moved through a slate of the president’s judicial nominees in late 2014.
The White House said Obama selected Boggs after extensive collaboration with Isakson and Chambliss. Typically, home-state senators have tremendous sway in such nominations.
Obama has not yet revealed his next nominee for the post.
