Controversial Bush appeals court nominees withdraw to make way for new candidates News
Controversial Bush appeals court nominees withdraw to make way for new candidates

[JURIST] Four US federal appeals court nominees requested Tuesday that their names be withdrawn from consideration by the Senate [official website], according to Republican party officials. Each of the nominees, Michael Wallace, William Haynes, William Myers and Terrence Boyle [official profiles], were opposed by Democrats and failed to gain confirmation before the Senate began its vacation in December. With the installation of the majority Democrat Congress, the nominees would have faced heavy scrutiny during subsequent Senate confirmation hearings. In May 2006, the American Bar Association [group website] voted unanimously [JURIST report] that Wallace, former aide to US Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS), was "not qualified" [ratings, PDF] to sit on the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit [official website].

Despite the withdrawals, Republican officials confirmed that President Bush will nominate 33 more candidates for federal judgeships. AP has more.

6:45 PM – The new White House judicial nominations [letter; additional letter] have now gone forward to the Senate.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Egypt President Anwar Sadat visits Israel

On November 19, 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited Israel, becoming the first leader of an Arab nation to officially visit. Two years later, President Sadat became the first Arab leader to recognize Israel by signing the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty. Read President Sadat's address to the Israeli Knesset.

Jay Treaty signed

On November 19, 1794, US Chief Justice John Jay and British foreign secretary Lord Grenville signed a treaty in Philadelphia under which British forces pulled out of the disputed Northwest Territory. Review the Jay Treaty.