Big step for N.C. judges

Good news for North Carolina this morning: The Senate Judiciary Committee today backed the appointment of two N.C. judges, including one from Charlotte, to the U.S. Court of Appeals.
The committee voted unanimously to recommend the confirmation of Superior Court Judge Albert Diaz of Charlotte, and voted 18-1 in favor of N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Jim Wynn of Cary.
That suggests that Wynn and Diaz have a strong chance of joining the 4th Circuit appeals court in Richmond, Va., because the Senate often follows the committee's recommendation. President Barack Obama nominated the pair in November.
Politics has kept North Carolina from having its fair share of representation on the appeals court, which handles appeals from five states and is the last stop before the U.S. Supreme Court. The confirmation of Diaz and Wynn would end that. Both are good judges with sharp minds and deserve a seat on the court.
- Posted by The Observer editorial board