Obama taps 2 more for federal appeals courts

[babylonsister]

Obama taps 2 more for federal appeals courts

By LARRY MARGASAK
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated a federal judge from Maryland and another from New York to serve on U.S. appeals courts, moving to change the political balance of both courts.

The Maryland judge, Andre Davis, would serve on the Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals if confirmed by the Senate. His confirmation would give the circuit six Democratic-appointed and six Republican-named judges, leaving three vacancies. The court has handled cases involving terrorism defendants or detainees.

Gerard Lynch would fill the only vacancy on the New York-centered 2nd Circuit, giving the court seven Democratic and six Republican judges. The court often presides over Wall Street-related financial cases.

"Judges Lynch and Davis are two jurists with exceptional records of integrity and fairness," Obama said in a statement. "They will be voices of reason and evenhandedness on the Second and Fourth Circuits."

There currently are 15 vacancies in federal appeals courts covering 12 geographically based circuits. The courts often provide the last word on a variety of issues affecting Americans. Their decisions cover, among other matters, civil rights, searches and seizures, age and gender discrimination, religious liberty, capital punishment, abortion, gay rights, corporate wrongdoing, review of federal regulations and terrorism.

In eight years, the Bush administration had the opportunity to tilt the courts to the right. Obama can now make them less conservative.

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