Boyle to the Fourth Circuit. Beaty's nomination was ultimately unsuccessful because of Helms's opposition. On May 9, 2001, Boyle was renominated by President George W. Bush to the Fourth Circuit, this time to the seat vacated by Phillips Jr, but his nomination was never brought to a vote on the floor of the Senate. For over five years, the nomination was stalled, the longest federal appeals court nomination that was never given a full Senate vote. His nomination was adamantly opposed by the Democratic Party from the beginning. Democratic Senator John Edwards claimed Boyle was an opponent of civil rights and disabilities legislation. Boyle's supporters viewed him as the victim of political payback and obstruction because of his ties to Helms, who had derailed several judicial nominations by Clinton because of Boyle. In March 2005, after Bush's re-election and an increased Republican Party Senate majority, the Senate Judiciary Committee gave Boyle a hearing, almost a full four years after his nomination. On June 16, 2005, Boyle was voted out of Committee on a 10-8 party line vote. In April 2006, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said he would try to schedule a vote in May on the nomination of Boyle. No vote occurred, however; with the Democrats taking over the US Senate in the 110th Congress, Boyle's confirmation chances markedly decreased. On January 9, 2007, the White House announced that it would not renominate Boyle. At the time, Boyle clearly stated he did not voluntarily withdraw his nomination. On July 17, 2007, US President George W. Bush nominated United States District Court Judge Robert J. Conrad, to the Phillips seat; Conrad's nomination was also unsuccessful. See also George H.W. Bush judicial appointment controversies George W. Bush judicial appointment controversies References External links U.S. Department of Justice Profile 1945 births Living people Washington College of Law alumni Brown University alumni People from Passaic, New Jersey Judges of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina United States district court judges appointed by Ronald Reagan 20th-century American judges North Carolina Republicans People from Elizabeth City, North Carolina 21st-century American judges