Saturday, July 10, 2004

Judiciary committee postpones vote on 4th circuit nominee Claude Allen

The Washington Post reports here ("Senators Delay Vote On Va. Bench Nominee," 7/10/04) that the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. Senate has postponed a vote, probably for the rest of 2004, on the nomination of Claude Allen to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The senators from Maryland, both Democrats, continue to oppose the nomination of Allen, who is from Virginia, to fill what they view as a "Maryland seat," made vacant by the death of Judge Murnaghan.

The article notes that there are 15 seats on the Fourth Circuit. Right now, there are 13 full-status judges, with the nominations of Allen and Judge Boyle in limbo, as is the nomination of William Haynes to replace Judge Widener, who will eventually take senior status. Of the 13, 8 were appointed by Republican presidents, 4 were appointed by President Clinton, and Judge Gregory was appointed at different times by both President Clinton and President Bush. Other than Judge Widener, none of the current judges were born before 1940.

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