Obama nominates 2 for 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

President Barrack Obama today nominated two more judges for the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, both to fill North Carolina seats.

If appointed, Albert Diaz would be the first Hispanic to serve on the 15-judge court and the other, James Wynn, could be the fourth African-American, said Carl Tobias of University of Richmond law school.

The court hears appeals from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and North and South Carolina.

There are currently five vacancies on the court. Andre Davis, a federal judge in Maryland and an African American, and Virginia Supreme Court Justice Barbara Keenan were also nominated by Obama and are awaiting Senate floor votes.

Diaz is a Special Superior Court judge in North Carolina and Wynn sits on the North Carolina Court of Appeals.