Terrence Boyle

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Terrence W. Boyle (born December 22, 1945, Passaic, New Jersey) is a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

He was appointed to that position by President Ronald Reagan on May 3, 1984 following unanimous confirmation by the United States Senate. He was Chief Judge of that court from 1997-2004.

Boyle received a B.A. from Brown University and a J.D. from the Washington College of Law at American University.

[edit] Fourth Circuit nomination and controversy

For five years, Boyle was a nominee for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He was nominated by President George W. Bush on May 9, 2001, but his nomination was never brought to a vote on the floor of the Senate. His nomination was the longest-pending of the Bush Administration. Boyle was originally nominated to the Fourth Circuit in 1991 by Bush's father, President George H.W. Bush.

His nomination was adamantly opposed by Democrats from the beginning. Former North Carolina Democrat and Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards claimed Boyle was an opponent of civil rights and disabilities legislation. Boyle's supporters viewed Boyle as the victim of political payback and obstruction because of his ties to former North Carolina Republican Senator Jesse Helms, who derailed several judicial nominations by President Bill Clinton (Boyle was a staffer for Helms in 1973), and the perceived determination of liberal politicians not to let conservatives serve at the highest levels of the federal judiciary.

In March 2005, following Bush's re-election and an increased Republican Senate majority, the Senate Judiciary Committee gave Boyle a hearing almost a full four years after his nomination. On June 16, 2005, Boyle was voted out of Committee on a 10-8 party line vote.

In April 2006, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said he would try to schedule a vote in May on the nomination of Boyle.[1]. No vote occurred however. With the Democrats taking over the U.S. Senate in the 110th Congress, Boyle's confirmation chances markedly decreased. On January 9, 2007, the White House announced that it would not be re-nominating Boyle to the Court of Appeals.[2] Boyle has clearly stated he did not withdraw his nomination.[3].

[edit] References

  1. ^ www.newsobserver.com
  2. ^ NY Times
  3. ^ www.newsobserver.com.

[edit] External links