Power

Harry Reid Says He Can’t Support Michael Boggs’ Nomination

The controversial judicial nominee faces growing opposition from Democrats, including the Senate majority leader.

The controversial judicial nominee faces growing opposition from Democrats, including the Senate majority leader. WikiMedia Commons

Read more of our coverage on controversial judicial nominee Michael Boggs here.

The day after Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee sharply questioned federal judicial nominee Michael Boggs, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said he could not vote for Boggs.

Boggs, who is a candidate for a U.S. district court in Georgia, is the target of civil and reproductive rights groups who oppose his nomination based on a voting record that includes opposition to marriage equality, hostility to abortion rights, and support of the Confederate flag. During a confirmation hearing Tuesday, Boggs tried to distance himself from those positions, arguing that votes he took as a lawmaker are no reflection of how he would vote as a judge. The Obama administration has made similar comments, standing by Boggs’ nomination and arguing that it’s his record as a judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals that should matter.

According to reports, on Wednesday afternoon both Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) said they hadn’t decided whether they would vote to approve Boggs out of committee. And both Durbin and Reid plan to meet with Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), a civil rights leader and one of the most vocal critics of the Boggs nomination.

Boggs’ nomination is not yet scheduled for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senators have until early next week to ask Boggs follow-up questions. After that, it is up to Judiciary Chairman Leahy to schedule a committee vote.