Anti-gay judge Michael Boggs loses last shot at federal bench

It’s done. Really, we mean it this time. President Obama will not re-nominate Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Michael Boggs to the federal bench. The announcement came in a press release issued Tuesday night by Georgia Republicans Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss as reported by the AJC.

Boggs, a former Democratic member of the Georgia House of Representatives, drew fierce opposition from Democratic senators and several progressive organizations, including LGBT organizations, after being nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia by President Obama last December. He couldn’t get enough votes to advance and his nomination appeared dead in September.

However, following the Republican Party’s success in November’s midterm elections and impending takeover of the U.S. Senate, reports surfaced that Boggs’ nomination could be revived.

But as today’s report indicates, President Obama’s Chief of Staff Denis McDonough informed Isakson and Chambliss prior to Thanksgiving that Boggs’ nomination was dead.

During Boggs’ two terms in the General Assembly, from 2001 to 2004, Boggs voted in favor of keeping the Confederate flag emblem as part of the state flag and and publicly naming doctors who provide abortions. He also introduced a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in the state. Boggs also argued while serving in the Georgia legislature against “activist judges” that he believed were working to bring marriage equality to same-sex couples.

psaunders@thegavoice.com | @patricksaunders