Obama Withdraws Caitlin Halligan's Nomination To D.C. Circuit Court

WASHINGTON -- The White House officially withdrew President Barack Obama's nomination of Caitlin Halligan to serve on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. A statement issued on Friday comes after repeated attempts to confirm the former New York state solicitor general were filibustered by Senate Republicans.

In a statement, Obama said he was "deeply disappointed" that a minority of senators had blocked Halligan's nomination for almost two and a half years, and called the vacancies on what is arguably the country's second-highest federal court "unacceptable."

"Today, I accepted Caitlin Halligan's request to withdraw as a nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit," Obama said in an emailed statement. "This unjustified filibuster obstructed the majority of Senators from expressing their support. I am confident that with Caitlin's impressive qualifications and reputation, she would have served with distinction."

Republicans objected to Halligan's nomination because of what they claim is her history of legal advocacy, having focused specifically on a lawsuit in which she participated that would make gun manufacturers legally accountable for criminal acts of gun violence.

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Full article and copy of Halligan's letter here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/obama-caitlin-halligan_n_2934986.html

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
March 22, 2013
Presidential Withdrawal Sent to the Senate

WITHDRAWAL SENT TO THE SENATE:

Caitlin Joan Halligan, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, vice John G. Roberts, Jr., elevated, which was sent to the Senate on January 4, 2013.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/03/22/presidential-withdrawal-sent-senate