U.S. Sens. Kay Hagan and Richard Burr said they want to see North Carolinians on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

President Barack Obama nominated Judges James Wynn and Albert Diaz to the court, which serves North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. North Carolina has had only six judges serve on the 15-judge panel since it was established in 1801, according to Hagan's office.

Judge Allyson Duncan is the only North Carolinian on the bench. The late Sen. Jesse Helms blocked Wynn's 1999 nomination to the court.

"Today’s announcement is a victory for North Carolina," Hagan said in a statement. "For too long partisan bickering and obstructionism on both sides of the aisle have unnecessarily derailed the nominations of qualified North Carolinians."

Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, whose opposition or support could prove pivotal to the confirmation of the nominees, said this morning he "looks forward to working with" Diaz and Wynn during the confirmation process.

"Since coming to the Senate, I have fought for greater representation for North Carolina on the United States Court of Appeals, and I plan to continue that fight for the people of North Carolina," he said.

The senators' complete statements after the jump.

   Comments (0)

Law students participating in a moot court competition at N.C. Central University this month may be more nervous than usual.

Presiding over the panel will be Chief Justice John G. Roberts.

Roberts' two-day visit on Monday and Tuesday, April 13 and 14, will be the first time a U.S. chief justice has come to the school in its 70-year history.

On April 13, Roberts will conduct a swearing-in ceremony to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar for graduates of the NCCU law school.

The moot court event, to take place April 14, will not be open to the public or the media, NCCU officials said. Roberts will serve on the moot court panel with Judge Allyson Duncan, a judge on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and retired state Chief Justice Henry Frye.

Roberts also will attend a lunch with students.