Cox not nominated in 1st round

S.J. Cahn

NEWPORT BEACH -- As expected Wednesday, President Bush did not include

Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) among his first list of judicial

nominees.

For a month, Cox’s name has been attached to a vacant seat on the 9th

Circuit Court of Appeals. But political battles in the U.S. Senate over

the approval of the nominees forced Bush to hold back on those picks that

would get the harshest Democratic challenge.

By Senate tradition, home-state senators have approval authority over

judicial nominees. Neither of California’s two Democratic senators,

Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, have yet given their support to Cox.

Boxer, in fact, has been a tough critic of the choice.

Cox and Feinstein met last week, and the senator has not ruled out

supporting him.

Without her support, however, Cox almost certainly won’t be nominated.

In making his nominations Wednesday, Bush made it clear he hoped the

Senate would move past the nomination fight.

“I urge senators of both parties to rise above the bitterness of the

past, to provide a fair hearing and a prompt vote to every nominee,” Bush

said. “That should be the case for no matter who lives in this house, and

no matter who controls the Senate.

“I ask for the return of civility and dignity to the confirmation

process. And with this distinguished group of nominees awaiting

confirmation, there is no better opportunity than right now.”

A host of potential candidates have lined up, albeit tentatively, at

the possibility that Cox’s seat would open up after he moved to the

federal bench.

Among those interested are state Sen. Dick Ackerman (R-Fullerton),

Newport Beach Realtor Bill Cote, Assemblyman Bill Campbell (R-Villa

Park), Supervisor Todd Spitzer, former Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer,

state Sen. Ross Johnson (R-Irvine), Santa Ana Councilman Brett Franklin,

Newport Beach philanthropist John Crean and Newport Beach physician Don

Udall.