WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush will renominate many of his controversial judicial nominees, the White House said Thursday, setting the stage for a fight with Senate Democrats even before his second term begins.
Spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement that Bush planned to renominate 20 people to US courts of appeals and district courts, 16 of whom were nominated more than a year ago but were blocked by the opposition party.
"The president nominated highly qualified individuals to the federal courts during his first term, but the Senate failed to vote on many nominations," said McClellan.
Battles over judicial appointments are expected to be a prominent feature of Bush`s second four-year term, during which, political analysts say, he will probably face at least one US Supreme Court vacancy.
12/23/2004 19:37 GMT - AFP