As Republican Sen. Wayne Allard revealed seven names he submitted to the White House for federal judicial appointments on Tuesday, Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar continued to urge candidates to apply for the three vacancies through his bipartisan selection panel.
Allard said the White House is considering Christine Arguello, former chief deputy attorney general; Phillip Brimmer, chief of special prosecutions for the Colorado U.S. attorney; Greg Goldberg, former assistant U.S. attorney for Colorado;
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hegarty; 19th Judicial District Judge James Hartmann; former Colorado U.S. Attorney William Leone; and 1st Judicial District Judge Mary Jo Menendez.
“The list includes Republicans, Democrats and Independents and the individuals I have forwarded to the president come highly recommended by their peers; any of whom would make an outstanding federal district court judge,” Allard said.
With the exception of Arguello, Salazar is not familiar with the backgrounds of the candidates Allard submitted. Salazar had been told about the names of four candidates on the list of seven, said his spokesman, Cody Wertz.
The senators have disagreed in recent weeks over the selection process. Allard says names need to be submitted before the Senate stops taking nominations in July and Salazar says there is time to formalize a process to include more candidates who may not otherwise be considered.
Chief U.S. District Judge Edward W. Nottingham has said that the selection process needs to get underway, otherwise the court will be in crisis with an overloaded docket through 2010.
The vacancies on the bench are a result of the death of Judge Phillip S. Figa and the upcoming semi-retirements of Judges Lewis T. Babcock and Walker D. Miller.
The deadline for applying through Salazar’s commission is Feb. 15.
Wertz said the seven people whose names were submitted by Allard should also apply through Salazar’s commission. Dozens of people have already applied, Wertz said, but he declined to name them.
Application forms are available at www.salazar.senate.gov or from his office, 2300 15th St., Suite 450, Denver, CO 80202.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
