Litigation

Butler Nomination Headed to Senate Floor

By Peter Hardin

President Obama’s nomination  of former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler Jr. for a federal district judgeship is headed to the floor of the U.S. Senate.

The Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed Butler’s nomination by a 12-7 vote, with all of the panel’s Republicans opposing the nomination, according to an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Justice Butler was the first African American seated on Wisconsin’s highest court when he was appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle. He  was defeated last year in an ugly election contest with then-Judge Michael Gableman, who now faces an ethics complaint accusing him of lying in a campaign ad aired against Justice Butler.

Some Republicans have raised questions about Obama’s nomination of Justice Butler, pointing to the fact that Wisconsin voters defeated state Supreme Court bids by Justice Butler two times–in 2000 and last year. Several of his judicial rulings also have drawn criticism. You may learn more from earlier Gavel Grab posts.

Full post as published by The Gavel on December 04, 2009 (boomark / email).