Louis Butler, former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, was nominated to the Western Wisconsin District Court by President Obama Thursday.
U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., recommended Butler to fill retiring judge John Shabaz's seat. Both Feingold and Kohl sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will begin reviewing Butler's appointment before it goes to the Senate.
""I have no doubt that Judge Butler has the qualifications, experience and intellect that will serve him well as our next District Court judge,"" Kohl said in a statement. ""We congratulate him on this nomination and look forward to helping move it through the Senate.""
Lawmakers on the other side of the aisle, however, are not as optimistic about Butler's nomination. U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Menomonee Falls, said in a statement he objected to the appointment because Kohl and Feingold did not make a bipartisan recommendation.
Sensenbrenner was surprised by the nomination because Butler was unseated as a member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Justice Michael Gableman in 2008.
""Mr. Butler lost a statewide election, held by the people of Wisconsin, to continue serving on Wisconsin's Supreme Court,"" Sensenbrenner said. ""Now, the man who was voted off the bench in Wisconsin is being given a promotion, a lifetime appointment and a pay raise.""
Butler served on the Wisconsin Supreme Court from August 2004 until July 2008. His 2004 nomination by Gov. Jim Doyle made him the first African American to serve on the Court.
Butler's nomination is still pending.
