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Lawmakers, Civil Rights Activists Oppose Obama’s Judicial Nominees

December 23rd, 2013

A coalition of Georgia Democratic lawmakers, Civil Rights leaders, and community members Monday publicly opposed four Georgia judicial nominees chosen by President Barack Obama. Members of the coalition, like Civil Rights leader Rev. Joseph Lowery, said the president’s picks don’t reflect the state’s diversity.

“It is insulting to come into Georgia in 2000 and, what is this, 13?” Lowery said. “And bring a slate of nominees that are so unrepresentative of the state.”

The president last week announced three Georgia district court nominees and one appeals court nominee.

Two are women, two are men, and all of them are white. Congressman and longtime Civil Rights activist John Lewis urged the president to reconsider.

“Black women in this state vote much higher than any group, much higher than white women, much higher than white men, much higher than black men,” Lewis said. “And I think it’s unfair, it’s not right for black women not to be represented on the bench in this state.”

The group took issue with the two male candidates in particular, Michael Boggs and Mark Cohen. As a state lawmaker, Boggs voted against legislation to change the Georgia flag with the Confederate emblem on it. Cohen, an attorney, argued for the state’s voter ID law in court, which the group says restricts voting access.

U.S. Rep. David Scott said nominating Cohen was a contradiction for the president.

“To nominate the architect, the attorney, the defender of the voter suppression law in the state of Georgia, the photo ID,” Scott said. “And this is an African-American president, an African-American attorney general who are going around the country fighting these laws.”

Lewis said the nomination process is problematic. It’s hard for Democrats and Republicans to agree on candidates. But he says he’s not giving up. Lewis says he’s prepared to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee if necessary.