Obama Announces Two Federal Appeals Court Nominees

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Sexual Health / STDs;  Abortion
Article Date: 06 Apr 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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President Obama on Thursday announced the nomination of two federal judges for U.S. appeals courts -- Andre Davis of Maryland and Gerard Lynch of New York -- choices that would "change the political balance of both courts," the AP/Google.com reports. Davis and Lynch are Obama's second and third picks for the federal appeals courts, joining U.S. District Court Judge David Hamilton of Indiana, whose Senate hearing for confirmation to the Chicago-based Seventh Circuit got under way this week. Davis, who has been a judge for 22 years, would serve on the Virginia-based Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. His confirmation would give the circuit six Democratic-appointed judges and six Republican-appointed judges, leaving the court with three vacancies. Lynch, who joined the federal bench in 2000, would fill the only vacancy on the New York-based 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, giving the court seven Democratic-appointed judges and six Republican-appointed judges.

There are currently 15 federal appeals courts vacancies across 12 geographically based circuits. The AP/Google.com reports that the federal appeals courts "often provide the last word on a variety of issues affecting Americans," including abortions rights and gender discrimination, among many other matters. Obama's nominations could make some circuits less conservative after eight years of right-leaning nominees appointed under former President George W. Bush (Margasak, AP/Google.com, 4/3).

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