Former Waycross Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Michael Boggs won’t be sitting on the federal bench, following President Barack Obama’s announcement to senators he won’t renominate Boggs to be a federal judge in Georgia.
Officials with the White House confirmed early Wednesday that Boggs will not be renominated. He was originally nominated in December 2013, but never received a confirmation vote.
“It is with regret that we announce that the President will not re-nominate Judge Michael Boggs to the United States District Court for a third time,” said Georgia Sens. Johnny Isakson (R) and Saxby Chambliss (R) in a joint statement on Tuesday. “We were informed of the President’s decision by Denis McDonough, the President’s chief of staff, prior to Thanksgiving.”
“We regret the President’s decision, as we have supported Judge Boggs throughout this process and remain steadfast in our support. Judge Boggs has served the state with honor and integrity as an appellate and trial judge. Throughout the process, Judge Boggs has exhibited enormous restraint and the temperament expected of a jurist.”
Boggs, who, who was nominated to serve on the federal court in the Northern District of Georgia, has faced widespread opposition from progressives for his record as a Georgia state legislator on gay marriage, abortion and the Confederate flag.
President Obama had nominated Boggs, a Georgia Court of Appeals judge, as part of a deal with Georgia’s two senators to fill federal judicial vacancies in the state.