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WASHINGTON — President Bush nominated two Virginians for federal district judgeships yesterday.
David J. Novak of Montpelier, an assistant U.S. attorney who was a key prosecutor in the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui, was nominated for a judgeship in Richmond. Moussaoui is a convicted Sept. 11 conspirator who drew a life sentence.
Mark S. Davis, a Virginia circuit judge in Portsmouth, was nominated for a judgeship in Northern Virginia.
Both men's names were on a list submitted by Sens. John W. Warner, a Republican, and Jim Webb, a Democrat, for the vacant judgeships in the Eastern District of Virginia. That kind of support could help them win confirmation in the Senate.
"I am pleased that the president has selected from our list of recommended candidates," Webb said in a statement.
He said he hoped to see "a similar spirit of bipartisan cooperation" with regard to the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Bush has bypassed Webb and Warner's recommended candidates in nominating one judge there for a seat previously held by a Virginian.
Warner said, "This is a clear example of how a Republican senator and Democrat senator can come together to find highly qualified individuals based on merit to receive the advice and consent of the Senate to become members of the federal judiciary." The Senate must confirm nominations for federal judgeships.
Yesterday, Bush nominated Rod J. Rosenstein, the U.S. attorney in Baltimore, for a seat on the 4th Circuit previously held by a Maryland judge.
The 4th Circuit currently has five occupants named by Democratic presidents and five named by Republican presidents, and five vacancies. Its balance of power is up for grabs now.
Peter Hardin is The Times-Dispatch's Washington correspondent.
David J. Novak of Montpelier, an assistant U.S. attorney who was a key prosecutor in the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui, was nominated for a judgeship in Richmond. Moussaoui is a convicted Sept. 11 conspirator who drew a life sentence.
Mark S. Davis, a Virginia circuit judge in Portsmouth, was nominated for a judgeship in Northern Virginia.
Both men's names were on a list submitted by Sens. John W. Warner, a Republican, and Jim Webb, a Democrat, for the vacant judgeships in the Eastern District of Virginia. That kind of support could help them win confirmation in the Senate.
"I am pleased that the president has selected from our list of recommended candidates," Webb said in a statement.
He said he hoped to see "a similar spirit of bipartisan cooperation" with regard to the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Bush has bypassed Webb and Warner's recommended candidates in nominating one judge there for a seat previously held by a Virginian.
Warner said, "This is a clear example of how a Republican senator and Democrat senator can come together to find highly qualified individuals based on merit to receive the advice and consent of the Senate to become members of the federal judiciary." The Senate must confirm nominations for federal judgeships.
Yesterday, Bush nominated Rod J. Rosenstein, the U.S. attorney in Baltimore, for a seat on the 4th Circuit previously held by a Maryland judge.
The 4th Circuit currently has five occupants named by Democratic presidents and five named by Republican presidents, and five vacancies. Its balance of power is up for grabs now.
Peter Hardin is The Times-Dispatch's Washington correspondent.