The Singal nomination

Beyond the impressive qualities of the person nominated this week to fill the position left by the death of U.S. District Judge Morton Brody, the members of Maine’s congressional delegation are to be congratulated for their unified effort to move this process along. Their action might inspire Congress to change its recent pattern and act quickly on the nomination.

Bangor attorney George Singal has the unabashed support of his peers, wide-ranging experience and a history of service to Maine in addition to his many professional successes. U.S. District judge and chief judge of the Maine federal court system, D. Brock Hornby, called Mr. Singal a lawyer of impeccable reputation and outstanding ability. If he is nominated and confirmed, I would be honored to have him as a colleague. Now Mr. Singal has the four members of Maine’s delegation — two Democrats and two Republicans — formally urging President Clinton to appoint and the Senate to confirm him.

Given the split between Reps. John Baldacci and Tom Allen in 1997 over whom to name to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, the coordinated effort this time is especially important. The ’97 nomination — which came down the choice of Kermit Lipez, who was appointed to the position, and Mr. Singal — was an honest disagreement over two strong candidates. Nevertheless, the split was a distraction the state’s small delegation didn’t need. The decision to issue a joint announcement this time was a good one.

Maine elects its members of Congress on their individual merits, and clear ideological differences on a wide range of issues will prevent them from agreeing all the time. That’s as it should be. But there are occasions when the delegation, working for Maine on questions that transcend party positions, works best together. This is a strong tradition in Maine that has proved its worth over many years.

Senior Democrat Rep. Baldacci, who might be expected to make judicial recommendations under a Democratic presidency, showed foresight by including all members in the decision. In turn, Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins put the state’s interest first in crossing party lines to support an excellent nominee.