U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday cleared the way for two nominees for the federal court in Atlanta to receive confirmation votes by the full Senate.

The panel voted 11-9 along party lines for Judge William Ray of the Georgia Court of Appeals. Michael Brown, an Alston & Bird partner, was approved on a voice vote.

The committee delayed a vote on Judge Tripp Self of the state Court of Appeals, who has been nominated to the federal court for the Middle District of Georgia.

Despite the split vote, the senators engaged in no debate over Ray. Democrats on the panel had quizzed Ray last month at a hearing over his opposition to a hate crime law when he was a Republican state senator.

Ray had explained that he opposed that bill because “it required that a judge was the one who was going to make the decision as to whether or not the defendant acted with some hate toward some particular identifiable group. And that was in direct contradiction to a United States Supreme Court decision … which said it had to be a jury decision.”

Ray also said the bill in question provided for no additional penalties. “I thought … it was simply a political statement,” he said, adding the bill had another problem. “It didn't really identify the groups … that were targeted. It could have been anyone.”

The liberal Alliance for Justice group had urged tough scrutiny of Ray, who was warmly supported by Georgia's Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, both Republicans.

Ray declined to comment on Friday. Brown could not be reached. Nominees generally do not comment on their nominations while they are pending.

The committee on Thursday approved, also in an 11-9 party line vote, Ogletree Deakins shareholder Tom Farr for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday cleared the way for two nominees for the federal court in Atlanta to receive confirmation votes by the full Senate.

The panel voted 11-9 along party lines for Judge William Ray of the Georgia Court of Appeals. Michael Brown, an Alston & Bird partner, was approved on a voice vote.

The committee delayed a vote on Judge Tripp Self of the state Court of Appeals, who has been nominated to the federal court for the Middle District of Georgia.

Despite the split vote, the senators engaged in no debate over Ray. Democrats on the panel had quizzed Ray last month at a hearing over his opposition to a hate crime law when he was a Republican state senator.

Ray had explained that he opposed that bill because “it required that a judge was the one who was going to make the decision as to whether or not the defendant acted with some hate toward some particular identifiable group. And that was in direct contradiction to a United States Supreme Court decision … which said it had to be a jury decision.”

Ray also said the bill in question provided for no additional penalties. “I thought … it was simply a political statement,” he said, adding the bill had another problem. “It didn't really identify the groups … that were targeted. It could have been anyone.”

The liberal Alliance for Justice group had urged tough scrutiny of Ray, who was warmly supported by Georgia's Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, both Republicans.

Ray declined to comment on Friday. Brown could not be reached. Nominees generally do not comment on their nominations while they are pending.

The committee on Thursday approved, also in an 11-9 party line vote, Ogletree Deakins shareholder Tom Farr for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.