Burr already scuttling new Obama court nomination

By GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – President Barack Obama’s latest pick to fill a longstanding vacancy in eastern North Carolina’s federal courts already appears scuttled by Sen. Richard Burr, who blames the president for not acting in good faith.

The White House announced late Thursday that Obama had nominated former state Supreme Court Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson to become a U.S. District judge in the Eastern District. She would fill a seat that’s been empty for more than 10 years.

Burr released a statement after Obama’s announcement saying he “will not support a new nomination in North Carolina from this administration.” He accused Obama of declining to honor an agreement made several years ago with the president, then-Sen. Kay Hagan and others to fill the vacancy.

The White House didn’t immediately respond to Burr’s statement Thursday night.

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