Judge Boggs isn’t a typical Obama nominee. The CBC already has vacation plans for next week.
Via The Hill
Black House Democrats say they are stunned by next week’s scheduled Senate hearing on a controversial judge nominated by President Obama for the federal bench.
Many liberals, notably members of the Congressional Black Caucus, have been up-in-arms over Obama’s nomination of Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Michael Boggs, whose previous record as a state legislator has outraged civil rights groups, women’s advocates and gay and lesbian organizations.
The Senate Judiciary Committee announced Thursday that Boggs will be one of seven judicial nominees to appear before the panel next Tuesday. But with the House on recess all next week, CBC members expressed frustration Friday that they won’t be in town to protest Boggs’ testimony.
“The opposition’s still there, and it’s been clear, and … I know there’s been talk about some members coming back next week to go over to the Senate,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), former head of the CBC. “But nobody expected this to happen, so people end up making travel plans and working in their districts. So it’s going to be difficult getting people back.”
Cleaver said the CBC was given “not a morsel” of warning that the hearing was coming.
“But all that’s going to do is create a higher level of anger at the fact that the Judiciary Committee is even going to be holding [the hearing],” Cleaver added.
Other CBC members, including Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.), the third-ranking House Democrat, said they were also caught off guard by the coming hearing.
“I had no idea,” Clyburn said.
Committee spokeswoman Jessica Brady said Friday that Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) “welcomes written testimony from anyone who has first-hand knowledge of a nominee’s fitness to serve as a judge.”
“The chairman also welcomes the attendance of any member … at this public hearing,” Brady said in an email.
Brady said Leahy has been working with senators from both parties to schedule the hearing.
Obama in December nominated Boggs to the U.S. District Court in Atlanta as part of a package deal he cut with Georgia GOP Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson to fill vacant judicial posts across the state.