Bill Clinton judicial appointment controversies

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During President Bill Clinton's first and second terms of office, he nominated 24 people for 20 federal appellate judgeships but the nominees were not processed by the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee. Three of the nominees who were not processed (Christine Arguello, Andre M. Davis and S. Elizabeth Gibson) were nominated after July 1, 2000, the traditional start date of the unofficial Thurmond Rule during a presidential election year. Democrats claim that Senate Republicans of the 106th Congress purposely tried to keep open particular judgeships as a political maneuver to allow a future Republican president to fill them. Of the 20 seats in question, four were eventually filled with different Clinton nominees, fourteen were later filled with Republican nominees by President George W. Bush and two continued to stay open during Bush's presidency. Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic leader of the United States Senate during the 110th Congress, and Senator Patrick Leahy, the Democratic leader of the Senate Judiciary Committee under Reid, repeatedly mentioned the controversy over President Clinton's court of appeals nominees during the controversy involving the confirmation of Republican court of appeals nominees during the last two years of Bush's second term. Republicans claimed that Democrats were refusing to confirm certain longstanding Bush nominees in order to allow a future Democratic president in 2009 to fill those judgeships.

During his presidency, Clinton also nominated 45 people for 42 federal district judgeships who were never confirmed by the United States Senate and successfully nominated 66 people for appellate judgeships.

List of unsuccessful federal judicial nominations

Clinton made 72 nominations for federal judgeships that were not confirmed by the Senate. Of these, one, Ronnie L. White, was rejected by the Senate, 11 were withdrawn by President Clinton, 10 were withdrawn by President George W. Bush, while the other 50 expired at an adjournment of the Senate, including 32 that were pending at the close of the 106th Congress. Eleven of his unsuccessful nominees were subsequently nominated to federal judgeships by other presidents, and all 11 were confirmed.

Nominee Court Nomination
date 		Date of
final action 		Final action Subsequent federal judicial nominations Seat filled by Ref.
Courts of appeals
Script error: No such module "Sort". 11th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Clinton Stanley Marcus [1]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 4th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president James A. Wynn Jr. [2][3]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 4th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Roger Gregory [4]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 6th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Bush 6th Cir. (nominated April 15, 2008, confirmed June 24, 2008)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Richard Allen Griffin [5][6][7]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 9th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Clinton Kim McLane Wardlaw [8]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 5th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Priscilla Richman [9]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 3rd Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Maryanne Trump Barry [10]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 9th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Bush Carlos Bea [11][12][13]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 9th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Richard C. Tallman [14]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 5th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Bush Edith Brown Clement [15][16]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 9th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Bush Richard Clifton [17][18]
Script error: No such module "Sort". D.C. Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president SCOTUS (nominated May 10, 2010, confirmed August 5, 2010)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". John Roberts [19]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 4th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Bush 4th Cir. (nominated November 4, 2009, confirmed August 5, 2010)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Himself [20][21]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 6th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Bush Susan Bieke Neilson [22][23]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 5th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Bush Priscilla Richman [24][25]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 10th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Clinton Timothy Tymkovich [26]
Script error: No such module "Sort". D.C. Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Thomas B. Griffith [27]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 6th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Jeffrey Sutton [28]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 3rd Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president D. Brooks Smith [29]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 8th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Bush Michael Joseph Melloy [30][31]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 3rd Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Michael Chertoff [32]
Script error: No such module "Sort".Template:Efn 4th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Bush 4th Cir. (nominated May 9, 2001, confirmed July 20, 2001)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Himself [33][34]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 10th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president D. Colo. (nominated July 10, 2008, confirmed September 26, 2008)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Timothy Tymkovich [35]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 4th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president 4th Cir. (nominated April 2, 2009, confirmed November 9, 2009)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Himself [36]
Script error: No such module "Sort". 4th Cir. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Allyson K. Duncan [37]
District courts
Script error: No such module "Sort". S.D. Fla. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Donald M. Middlebrooks [38]
Script error: No such module "Sort". C.D. Cal. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president George H. King [39]
Script error: No such module "Sort". S.D. Cal. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Barry Ted Moskowitz [40]
Script error: No such module "Sort". D. Idaho Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president B. Lynn Winmill [41]
Script error: No such module "Sort". N.D. Ala. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Clinton Charles Lynwood Smith Jr. [42][43]
Script error: No such module "Sort". M.D. Pa. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president A. Richard Caputo [44]
Script error: No such module "Sort". S.D. Ill. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president David R. Herndon [45]
Script error: No such module "Sort". W.D. Mo. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Clinton Gary A. Fenner [46]
Script error: No such module "Sort". W.D. Pa. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Clinton Arthur J. Schwab [47][48]
Script error: No such module "Sort". S.D. Fla. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Clinton Donald M. Middlebrooks [49]
Script error: No such module "Sort". N.D.N.Y. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president David N. Hurd [50][51]
Script error: No such module "Sort". C.D. Ill. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president C.D. Ill. (nominated June 17, 2010, confirmed March 7, 2011)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Michael P. McCuskey [52]
Script error: No such module "Sort". N.D. Tex. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Sam A. Lindsay [53]
Script error: No such module "Sort". N.D. Tex. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Clinton Barbara M. Lynn [54][55]
Script error: No such module "Sort". D.P.R. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Jay A. García-Gregory [56][57]
Script error: No such module "Sort". S.D. Cal. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Clinton Thomas J. Whelan [58]
Script error: No such module "Sort". E.D. Mo. Template:Dts Template:Dts rejected by the Senate E.D. Mo. (nominated November 7, 2013, confirmed July 16, 2014)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Henry Autrey [59][60]
Script error: No such module "Sort". E.D. Pa. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Clinton Petrese B. Tucker [61]
Script error: No such module "Sort". N.D. Ill. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Ronald A. Guzman [62]
Script error: No such module "Sort". D.D.C. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president John D. Bates [63][64]
Script error: No such module "Sort". E.D. Pa. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Petrese B. Tucker [65]
Script error: No such module "Sort". W.D. Pa. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Arthur J. Schwab [66][67]
Script error: No such module "Sort". E.D. Pa. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president E.D. Pa. (nominated January 23, 2002, confirmed April 18, 2022)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Himself [68][69]
Script error: No such module "Sort". E.D.N.C. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president James C. Dever III [70]
Script error: No such module "Sort". N.D. Okla. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Claire Eagan [71]
Script error: No such module "Sort". D. Colo. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Robert E. Blackburn [72]
Script error: No such module "Sort". C.D. Cal. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president C.D. Cal. (nominated August 6, 2009, confirmed December 24, 2009)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". John F. Walter [73]
Script error: No such module "Sort". C.D. Cal. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Percy Anderson [74]
Script error: No such module "Sort". N.D. Ga. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Clinton Beverly B. Martin [75]
Script error: No such module "Sort". N.D. Ohio Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president John R. Adams [76]
Script error: No such module "Sort". D.D.C. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Reggie Walton [77]
Script error: No such module "Sort". E.D. Pa. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Cynthia M. Rufe [78]
Script error: No such module "Sort". D. Nev. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Larry R. Hicks [79]
Script error: No such module "Sort". S.D. Tex. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Andrew Hanen [80]
Script error: No such module "Sort". D. Kan. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Julie A. Robinson [81]
Script error: No such module "Sort". N.D. Ala. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Karon O. Bowdre [82]
Script error: No such module "Sort". D. Haw. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president John Michael Seabright [83]
Script error: No such module "Sort". W.D. Pa. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president W.D. Pa. (nominated March 21, 2002, confirmed August 1, 2002)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". vacancy nullified [84]
Script error: No such module "Sort". W.D. Pa. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Joy Flowers Conti [85]
Script error: No such module "Sort". W.D. Okla. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Stephen P. Friot [86]
Script error: No such module "Sort". E.D. Cal. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Morrison C. England Jr. [87]
Script error: No such module "Sort". D. Neb. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Laurie Smith Camp [88]
Script error: No such module "Sort". D. Mont. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Sam E. Haddon [89]
Script error: No such module "Sort". E.D. Pa. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Timothy J. Savage [90]
Script error: No such module "Sort". W.D. Okla. Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Joe L. Heaton [91]
Court of International Trade
Script error: No such module "Sort". Intl. Trade Template:Dts Template:Dts returned to the president Richard K. Eaton [92]
Article I courts
Script error: No such module "Sort".Template:Efn Fed. Cl. Template:Dts Template:Dts withdrawn by Pres. Bush Mary Ellen Coster Williams [93]

Failed appellate nominees

Others who were nominated or considered for nomination to federal appellate courts

While not a controversy, one other Clinton appellate court nominee, Barbara Durham, withdrew before being confirmed, but not because of Republican opposition. Rather, Durham, a conservative jurist whom Clinton nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit as part of a deal with then-Washington Sen. Slade Gorton, withdrew because of illness. Clinton instead nominated Republican lawyer Richard Tallman of Seattle to the seat to which he had nominated Durham, and Tallman was confirmed in 2000.

While he was never formally nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Peter Edelman was strongly considered by Clinton for a seat on that appeals court in late 1994. After the influential Republican member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Sen. Orrin Hatch informed Clinton that he had intended to oppose Edelman's nomination, Clinton dropped plans to nominate Edelman to the D.C. Circuit, choosing Merrick Garland instead.[94]

In its November 1997 issue, the American Spectator reported that President Clinton had intended to nominate Teresa Wynn Roseborough in 1997 to a vacant seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit after Judge Phyllis A. Kravitch took senior status. The American Spectator noted, however, that Sen. Orrin Hatch, the then-chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, had "balked" at the idea of Roseborough, who was one of four finalists (the others were Leah Ward Sears, Clarence Cooper and Frank M. Hull) and had "suggested that a more moderate Clinton-appointed U.S. district judge, Frank Hull, would have clear sailing." Indeed, Frank M. Hull was confirmed by the Senate in a 96-0 vote in September 1997.[95]

Failed district court nominees

During his presidency, Clinton nominated 45 people for 42 different federal district judgeships to federal district courts who were never confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Like the appellate court nominations mentioned above, many of these nominees were blocked by Republicans either in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which was controlled by Republicans for six of the eight years of Clinton’s presidency, or on the Senate floor, where one nominee, Ronnie L. White, was defeated by senators.

Of the 42 federal district judgeship vacancies in question, 17 eventually were filled with different Clinton nominees, 24 were filled by nominees of President George W. Bush and one never ended up becoming vacant because the district judge holding it never received confirmation to be elevated to an appellate court. Of Clinton's 45 failed district court nominees, four, Legrome D. Davis, David S. Cercone, Dolly M. Gee and Sue E. Myerscough, subsequently were nominated by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama to federal district judgeships and then confirmed by the Senate.

The failed Clinton district court nominees:

See also

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

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Template:Presidency of Bill Clinton Template:U.S. Presidents and the Judiciary

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