Appeals Court Candidate Withdraws Nomination
Barbara Durham, a conservative Washington Supreme Court justice, disclosed Thursday that she is withdrawing her candidacy for a seat on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over nine Western states, including California.
Durham sent a letter to the White House and to the Washington Supreme Court, citing the fact that her husband had recently been diagnosed with serious heart problems, according to a spokeswoman for Sen. Slade Gorton (R-Wash.). Gorton had lobbied President Clinton to nominate Durham.
The nomination, which was part of an elaborate deal between the White House and Gorton involving three other judgeships, spurred controversy among liberals who said Durham’s opinions differed markedly from the judicial philosophy espoused by the Clinton administration.
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