Sen. Patrick Leahy, Judiciary Committee chair, has agreed to
move forward with votes for six of seven judicial nominees for Georgia, delaying a vote on Michael Boggs, the most controversial nominee whose civil rights and abortion record is problematic, at best.
Georgia's two Republican senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, "asked that I move forward with the Georgia nominees who were ready for a Committee vote," Leahy said in a statement. "I thank both of them for their willingness to move forward with these important nominations."
Boggs' nomination will remain pending before the committee.
"More time is needed to follow up on his recent testimony before his nomination will be scheduled for a vote," Leahy said.
A second of those nominees, Mark Cohen, is also
opposed by civil rights leaders as the lawyer who argued to preserve the state's voter suppression laws. But the real ire, from civil rights leaders, from the pro-choice community, from the LGBT community, has been focused on Boggs. Cohen should thank Boggs for taking all the heat, because he's at least getting a vote out of this committee.
Thus far, only Sens. Al Franken and Dick Durbin are confirmed "no" votes on the committee. Most of the Democrats on the panel had tough questions for Boggs in his hearing, and have expressed real concern. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) remains the sole Democrat on the committee to suggest that he would defer to the wishes of Georgia's senators on this one, though he hasn't taken a public position yet.
If you have an undecided senator on the Judiciary Committee (Dianne Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, Sheldon Whitehouse, Amy Klobuchar, Chris Coons, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono), please sign and send this petition to your senator on the Judiciary Committee, telling them to reject Michael Boggs.