News
Email
Print
Hagan sends list to Obama
It contains names of potential appointees for his consideration
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: July 11, 2009
RALEIGH - U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan's list of potential appointees to the federal judiciary includes three candidates who could succeed a prosecutor whom she wants to stay on until the investigations of two fellow Democrats are complete.
This week, Hagan presented to President Obama three candidates each for openings in the state for two federal judgeships, three U.S. marshals and three U.S. attorneys, including the job currently held by George Holding, the top prosecutor in Eastern North Carolina.
Hagan already has asked Obama not to replace Holding for now while he completes investigations involving former U.S. Sen. John Edwards and former Gov. Mike Easley. But the White House has suggested that it may consider having Holding, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, and another person share the U.S. attorney's work for a while, Hagan said yesterday while releasing the list.
"During my conversations with the Office of the White House Counsel, there was an interest expressed by the counsel's office to potentially appoint a separate individual to begin handling other matters not related to these investigations," Hagan wrote the president. "Should you decide to do so, the following names are provided for your consideration."
The three names are District Attorney Ben David of New Hanover and Pender counties; Hampton Dellinger, a Durham attorney, 2008 candidate for lieutenant governor and son of former U.S. solicitor general Walter Dellinger; and Thomas Walker, a former assistant U.S. attorney who previously worked with Attorney General Roy Cooper.
Though Obama makes the official appointments, which are subject to Senate confirmation, Hagan has great influence on the state's selections because she is a member of the same party as the president. These positions usually are filled by those with similar political allegiances as the administration.
Hagan created a four-person committee, led by former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Burley Mitchell, to offer a group of screened and qualified candidates, from which Hagan created her list.
"My primary objective has been to find the most qualified, competent and fair-minded candidates, of whom all North Carolinians will be proud," Hagan said in a news release.
For central North Carolina, Hagan listed for U.S. attorney Wake County Superior Court Judge Ripley Rand, son of Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand; Yanceyville attorney R. Lee Farmer; and Superior Court Judge Susan Taylor, who presides in several south-central counties.
For U.S. attorney in Western North Carolina, Hagan named Charlotte federal criminal defense attorney Peter Anderson; District Court Judge Danny Davis, who covers several western counties; and Anne Tompkins, a former assistant federal prosecutor living in Charlotte.
Hagan recommended for U.S. District Court judge in Eastern North Carolina two Superior Court judges in Allen Cobb in New Hanover and Pender counties, Quentin Sumner in Nash County, and as assistant U.S. attorney Jennifer May-Parker.
For District Court judge in central North Carolina, Hagan offered the names of Superior Court Judges Catherine Eagles in Guilford County and Edwin Wilson of Rockingham County, along with civil-rights attorney Anita Earls of Durham, who was named this week to the State Board of Elections.
The candidates for marshal included former state Highway Patrol Col. Richard Holden, who served from 1999 to 2004 as commander.
Email
Print
