Third Time’s a Charm? African-American Law Professor Once Again Nominated to Federal Bench

For the third time since taking office in 2009, President Obama has nominated Louis B. Butler for a seat on the federal district court in western Wisconsin.

Butler was the first African-American justice to sit on the Wisconsin Supreme Court when he was appointed to the post in 2004. Four years later, Butler lost an election for a full, 10-year term on the court. Since that time, Butler has been an adjunct professor of law at the University of Wisconsin.

Twice, the U.S. Senate has failed to act on Butler’s nomination. Some senators believe that a justice who was rejected by Wisconsin voters should not be placed on the bench in Wisconsin. Other senators have criticized Butler’s rulings as having an anti-business bias.

Butler is a graduate of Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Copyright © 2011. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. All rights reserved.