Trump now has 2 judicial vacancies to fill in NC, after another judge’s retirement

A second federal judge from North Carolina has announced his retirement, opening another seat for Republican President Donald Trump to fill.

Federal Eastern District Court Judge Terrence Boyle is retiring. The 80-year-old was appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1984 and has been on the bench more than half his life, handling cases from dozens of counties from Raleigh to the coast.

Because the eastern district contains the state capital as well as Interstate 95, its judges have handled a number of political corruption cases and high-level drug trafficking cases over the years, in addition to more routine legal work.

Another judicial seat — in the state's Middle District covering Durham, Greensboro and surrounding areas to the north and south — has been open for more than 6 months after Judge William Osteen announced his retirement in January.

Trump has yet to nominate a replacement for either seat. In the meantime, both judges have gone on what's called "senior status" in which they remain available, but with a much-reduced caseload.

But while it’s up to Trump to make the nominations, local North Carolina Republicans will be heavily involved in the decisions over who to recommend. And under longstanding tradition, either one of the state’s home senators — Republicans Thom Tillis and Ted Budd — can veto the president’s picks, under the Senate’s “blue slip” policy.

Tillis’ office didn’t respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Budd said there are no names to announce yet publicly, but discussions are underway.

“Senator Budd is working with Senator Tillis and the White House to identify and vet strong constitutionalist judges who will serve admirably on the federal bench,” Budd spokesman Christian McMullen told WRAL. “It is a top priority for the Senator to ensure exceptionally qualified legal minds are confirmed as quickly as possible for all upcoming vacancies.”

Boyle’s son Ellis Boyle is currently Trump’s pick to serve as the top federal prosecutor in the same eastern district in which the elder Boyle is a judge. And there’s precedent for judicial seats being passed down from father to son: Osteen replaced his father, Judge William Osteen Sr., in 2007 on a nomination by George W. Bush.

Ellis Boyle didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Friday on whether he’d be interested in the seat.