White House nominates 2 NC judges for 4th Circuit

RALEIGH, N.C. — The White House nominated two North Carolina judges Wednesday to fill seats on the nation's most conservative federal appeals court.

President Barack Obama said in a statement that he is nominating Judge Jim Wynn and Judge Albert Diaz to serve on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, citing their "distinguished judicial careers." The court covers North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

Diaz currently serves as a Special Superior Court Judge for complex business cases. He would become the court's first Hispanic judge. Wynn currently sits on the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan called the nominations a victory for the state, noting that Judge Allyson Duncan is the only current member of the 15-judge panel from North Carolina.

North Carolina has historically been underrepresented on the court, a shortfall largely due to partisan disputes, with Democrats denying the nomination of U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle. He was put forward by both President George W. Bush and his father, President George H.W. Bush.

Wynn was first nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1999, but then-North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms blocked his approval.

North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican, said in a statement Wednesday that the new nominees have "distinguished backgrounds." Burr declined to endorse the judges, however.

"I am pleased that the president has recognized North Carolina's historic under-representation on this important court, and has taken action to address it," he said.

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Nov 04, 2009 - 5:59 p.m. EDT

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