George H. W. Bush judicial appointment controversies

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During George H. W. Bush's term in office as the president of the United States of America, he nominated 11 individuals for 10 different federal appellate judgeships who were not processed by the Democratic-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee. [1] The Republicans claim that Senate Democrats of the 102nd Congress on purpose tried to keep open particular judgeships as a political maneuver to allow a future Democratic president to fill them. [2] All 10 of the judgeships were eventually filled with Clinton nominees, although one nominee, Roger Gregory, was nominated by Clinton and then renominated by President George W. Bush. None of the nominees were nominated after July 1, 1992, the traditional start date of the unofficial Thurmond Rule during a presidential election year. Senator Orrin Hatch, the Republican leader of the Senate Judiciary Committee during the 106th Congress mentioned the controversy over President George H.W. Bush's court of appeals nominees during the following controversy involving the confirmation of any more Democratic court of appeals nominees during the last two years of President Bill Clinton's second term. [3]

Contents

List of unsuccessful federal judicial nominations

Bush made 56 nominations for federal judgeships that were not confirmed by the Senate. All 56 expired at an adjournment of the Senate, including 53 that were pending at the close of the 102nd Congress. Twenty of his unsuccessful nominees were subsequently nominated to federal judgeships by other presidents, and 18 of them were confirmed.

NomineeCourtNomination
date
Date of
final action
Final actionSubsequent federal judicial nominationsSeat filled byRef.
Courts of appeals
Kenneth Ryskamp 11th Cir. April 26, 1990August 2, 1991returned to the president Rosemary Barkett [4] [5]
Jay Waldman 3rd Cir. July 26, 1991October 8, 1992returned to the president H. Lee Sarokin [6]
Franklin Van Antwerpen 3rd Cir. September 11, 1991October 8, 1992returned to the president 3rd Cir. (nominated November 21, 2003, confirmed May 20, 2004) Theodore McKee [7]
Lillian BeVier 4th Cir. October 22, 1991October 8, 1992returned to the president Roger Gregory [8]
Terrence Boyle 4th Cir. October 22, 1991October 8, 1992returned to the president 4th Cir. (nominated May 9, 2001, returned December 9, 2006) Diana Gribbon Motz [9]
Frank Keating 10th Cir. November 14, 1991October 8, 1992returned to the president Carlos F. Lucero [10]
Sidney A. Fitzwater 5th Cir. January 27, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Fortunato Benavides [11]
John Roberts D.C. Cir. January 27, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president D.C. Cir. (nominated May 9, 2001, confirmed May 8, 2003)
SCOTUS (nominated July 29, 2005, confirmed September 6, 2005)
Chief Justice (nominated September 6, 2005, confirmed September 29, 2005)
Judith W. Rogers [12]
John Smietanka 6th Cir. January 27, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Martha Craig Daughtrey [13]
Federico A. Moreno 11th Cir. March 10, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Rosemary Barkett [14]
Justin P. Wilson 6th Cir. March 20, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Karen Nelson Moore [15]
District courts
James R. McGregor W.D. Pa. October 15, 1990August 2, 1991returned to the president Donetta Ambrose [16] [17]
Edmund Arthur Kavanagh N.D.N.Y. July 25, 1991October 8, 1992returned to the president Rosemary S. Pooler [18]
Thomas E. Sholts S.D. Fla. July 26, 1991October 8, 1992returned to the president Wilkie D. Ferguson [19]
Andrew P. O'Rourke S.D.N.Y. November 12, 1991October 8, 1992returned to the president Allen G. Schwartz [20]
Tony Michael Graham N.D. Okla. November 14, 1991October 8, 1992returned to the president Terence C. Kern [21]
Carlos Bea N.D. Cal. November 20, 1991October 8, 1992returned to the president 9th Cir. (nominated April 11, 2003, confirmed September 29, 2003) Claudia Ann Wilken [22]
James B. Franklin S.D. Ga. November 26, 1991October 8, 1992returned to the president William Theodore Moore Jr. [23]
David G. Trager E.D.N.Y. November 27, 1991October 8, 1992returned to the president E.D.N.Y. (nominated August 6, 1993, confirmed November 20, 1993)Himself [24]
Kenneth R. Carr W.D. Tex. January 27, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Samuel Frederick Biery Jr. [25]
James W. Jackson N.D. Ohio January 27, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president James G. Carr [26]
Terral R. Smith W.D. Tex. January 27, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president William Royal Furgeson Jr. [27]
Paul L. Shechtman S.D.N.Y. March 20, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Deborah Batts [28]
Percy Anderson C.D. Cal. March 20, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president C.D. Cal. (nominated January 23, 2002, confirmed April 25, 2002) Audrey B. Collins [29]
Lawrence O. Davis E.D. Mo. March 20, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Charles Alexander Shaw [30]
Andrew Hanen S.D. Tex. March 20, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president S.D. Tex. (nominated January 23, 2002, confirmed May 9, 2002) Janis Graham Jack [31]
Russell T. Lloyd S.D. Tex. March 20, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Vanessa Gilmore [32]
John F. Walter C.D. Cal. March 20, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president C.D. Cal. (nominated January 23, 2002, confirmed April 25, 2002) Richard Paez [33]
Gene E. Voigts W.D. Mo. March 24, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Gary A. Fenner [34]
Manuel H. Quintana S.D.N.Y. March 26, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Denny Chin [35]
Charles A. Banks E.D. Ark. April 1, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Billy Roy Wilson [36]
Robert D. Hunter N.D. Ala. April 2, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Charles Lynwood Smith Jr. [37]
Maureen Mahoney E.D. Va. April 2, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Leonie Brinkema [38]
James S. Mitchell D. Neb. April 7, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Thomas Michael Shanahan [39]
Ronald B. Leighton W.D. Wash. April 30, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president W.D. Wash. (nominated January 23, 2002, confirmed November 14, 2002) Frank Burgess [40]
William D. Quarles Jr. D. Md. June 2, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president D. Md. (nominated September 12, 2002, confirmed March 12, 2003) Deborah K. Chasanow [41]
James A. McIntyre S.D. Cal. June 2, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Barry Ted Moskowitz [42]
Leonard Davis E.D. Tex. June 3, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president E.D. Tex. (nominated January 23, 2002, confirmed May 9, 2002) John H. Hannah Jr. [43]
J. Douglas Drushal N.D. Ohio June 3, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Lesley B. Wells [44]
C. Christopher Hagy N.D. Ga. June 3, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Frank M. Hull [45]
Louis J. Leonatti E.D. Mo. June 3, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Catherine D. Perry [46]
James J. McMonagle N.D. Ohio June 23, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Solomon Oliver Jr. [47]
Katharine J. Armentrout D. Md. June 23, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Alexander Williams Jr. [48]
Richard C. Casey S.D.N.Y. July 2, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president S.D.N.Y. (nominated July 16, 1997, confirmed October 21, 1997) Harold Baer Jr. [49]
Larry R. Hicks D. Nev. July 2, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president D. Nev. (nominated August 2, 2001, confirmed November 5, 2001) David Warner Hagen [50]
R. Edgar Campbell M.D. Ga. July 27, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Willie Louis Sands [51]
Joanna Seybert E.D.N.Y. July 27, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president E.D.N.Y. (nominated September 24, 1993, confirmed November 20, 1993)Herself [52]
Robert W. Kostelka W.D. La. August 7, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Tucker L. Melancon [53]
Richard Everett Dorr W.D. Mo. September 9, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president W.D. Mo. (nominated March 21, 2002, confirmed August 1, 2002) Ortrie D. Smith [54]
James H. Payne E.D. Okla.
N.D. Okla.
W.D. Okla.
September 17, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president E.D./N.D./W.D. Okla. (nominated August 2, 2001, confirmed October 23, 2001)
10th Cir. (nominated September 29, 2005, withdrawn March 7, 2006)
Michael Burrage [55]
Walter B. Prince D. Mass. September 17, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president Richard G. Stearns [56]
George A. O'Toole Jr. D. Mass. September 24, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president D. Mass. (nominated April 4, 1995, confirmed May 25, 1995) Reginald C. Lindsay [57]
William Dimitrouleas S.D. Fla. October 2, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president S.D. Fla. (nominated January 27, 1998, confirmed May 14, 1998) Daniel T. K. Hurley [58]
Henry Saad E.D. Mich. October 2, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president 6th Cir. (nominated November 8, 2001, withdrawn March 27, 2006) John Corbett O'Meara [59]
Article IV courts
Adriane J. Dudley D.V.I. March 8, 1990August 4, 1990returned to the president Thomas K. Moore [60]
Raymond L. Finch D.V.I. June 19, 1992October 8, 1992returned to the president D.V.I. (nominated March 22, 1994, confirmed May 6, 1994)
D.V.I. (nominated February 2, 2004, confirmed November 21, 2004)
Himself [61]

Failed appellate nominees

See also

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References

  1. Congressional Chronicle Archived 2011-09-30 at the Wayback Machine , C-SPAN (March 7, 2000).
  2. "GOP.com | Republican National Committee :: Rising Tide - the Judicial Confirmation Battle". Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  3. https://bulk.resource.org/gpo.gov/record/2000/2000_S10236.pdf%5B%5D
  4. "PN1225 — Kenneth L. Ryskamp — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  5. "PN39 — Kenneth L. Ryskamp — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  6. "PN530 — Jay C. Waldman — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  7. "PN580 — Franklin S. Van Antwerpen — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  8. "PN712 — Lillian R. BeVier — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  9. "PN713 — Terrence W. Boyle — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  10. "PN762 — Francis A. Keating II — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  11. "PN856 — Sidney A. Fitzwater — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  12. "PN857 — John G. Roberts Jr. — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  13. "PN858 — John A. Smietanka — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  14. "PN932 — Federico A. Moreno — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  15. "PN972 — Justin P. Wilson — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  16. "PN1592 — James R. McGregor — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  17. "PN40 — James R. McGregor — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  18. "PN526 — Edmund Arthur Michael Kavanagh — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  19. "PN531 — Thomas E. Sholts — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  20. "PN758 — Andrew P. O'Rourke — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  21. "PN765 — Tony Michael Graham — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  22. "PN789 — Carlos Bea — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  23. "PN801 — James B. Franklin — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  24. "PN808 — David G. Trager — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  25. "PN860 — Kenneth R. Carr — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  26. "PN861 — James W. Jackson — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  27. "PN862 — Terral R. Smith — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  28. "PN977 — Paul L. Shechtman — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  29. "PN978 — Percy Anderson — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  30. "PN979 — Lawrence O. Davis — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  31. "PN980 — Andrew S. Hanen — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  32. "PN982 — Russell T. Lloyd — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  33. "PN985 — John F. Walter — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  34. "PN987 — Gene E. Voigts — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  35. "PN999 — Manuel H. Quintana — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  36. "PN1012 — Charles A. Banks — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  37. "PN1025 — Robert D. Hunter — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  38. "PN1026 — Maureen E. Mahoney — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  39. "PN1029 — James S. Mitchell — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  40. "PN1112 — Ronald B. Leighton — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  41. "PN1176 — William D. Quarles — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  42. "PN1177 — James A. McIntyre — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  43. "PN1198 — Leonard E. Davis — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  44. "PN1199 — J. Douglas Drushal — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  45. "PN1200 — C. Christopher Hagy — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  46. "PN1201 — Louis J. Leonatti — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  47. "PN1247 — James J. McMonagle — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  48. "PN1248 — Katharine J. Armentrout — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  49. "PN1273 — Richard Conway Casey — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  50. "PN1277 — Larry R. Hicks — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  51. "PN1298 — R. Edgar Campbell — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  52. "PN1299 — Joanna Seybert — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  53. "PN1318 — Robert W. Kostelka — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  54. "PN1333 — Richard E. Dorr — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  55. "PN1369 — James H. Payne — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  56. "PN1370 — Walter B. Prince — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  57. "PN1392 — George A. O'Toole Jr. — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  58. "PN1426 — William P. Dimitrouleas — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  59. "PN1427 — Henry W. Saad — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  60. "PN1127 — Adriane J. Dudley — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.
  61. "PN1239 — Raymond L. Finch — The Judiciary". Congress.gov.