ICYMI: Fayetteville Observer: Senator Burr Causes 10 Year Judicial Vacancy

Press Release

In case you missed it, a recent Fayetteville Observer op-ed condemned Richard Burr's judicial obstruction, saying, "Burr has actually blocked two black women from this position since 2013. The first woman Burr blocked for this position is one whom he himself had recommended in 2009." She then called on him to "to fulfill his own constitutional responsibility and let the Senate do its job to fill this inexcusable 10-year judicial vacancy." Burr vowed to block the nomination of Patricia Timmons-Goodson "almost immediately" after it was announced.

Following Burr's obstruction announcement, Deborah Ross, Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, called on Burr to do his job and honor his oath of office saying, "Richard Burr's refusal to do his job and finally fill a decade-long vacancy on U.S. Eastern District of North Carolina federal district court is a perfect example of everything that's wrong with Washington. Patricia Timmons-Goodson has been elected statewide by the people of North Carolina two separate times, yet Senator Burr has rejected her nomination without so much as a hearing or meeting. Senator Burr swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution and that includes considering judicial nominees. Now North Carolinians expect him to honor that oath and do the job we're paying him to do."

ICYMI: Fayetteville Observer: Senator Burr Causes 10 Year Judicial Vacancy

Fayetteville's own extremely well qualified former N.C. Supreme Court justice was nominated on April 28 to fill a longtime vacancy on the federal court bench in Eastern North Carolina. Patricia Timmons-Goodson served as an associate justice on the Supreme Court of North Carolina from 2006 to 2012. She also served on the N.C. Court of Appeals and as a District Court judge. In all, Timmons-Goodson was a judge in North Carolina from 1984 through 2012.

I was shocked to read that Sen. Richard Burr vowed to block her the same day that she was nominated. According to The Fayetteville Observer's story, "Obama picked Timmons-Goodson to fill a vacant U.S. District judge position in the federal court system's Eastern District of North Carolina, which covers 44 counties. The seat has been empty for more than 10 years."

You may be surprised to learn that Burr has actually blocked two black women from this position since 2013. The first woman Burr blocked for this position is one whom he himself had recommended in 2009 -- Jennifer May-Parker. Her nomination timed out because Burr refused to sign the form to allow her nomination to be heard.

Then and now, Sen. Burr refuses to do the U.S. Senate's job of advice and consent. Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate. Their job is to make sure the nominee is qualified, and if so, vote yes. Their opportunity to oppose a nominee is during the hearings.

This vacancy was elevated to judicial emergency status years ago. Since this position is to serve Eastern North Carolina, this vacancy hurts North Carolina and Fayetteville directly. Timmons-Goodson served Fayetteville for decades. North Carolina and this court need her.

Burr has caused and continues to cause the federal courts in North Carolina to be short-handed. Burr needs to fulfill his own constitutional responsibility and let the Senate do its job to fill this inexcusable 10-year judicial vacancy.

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