Bush picks Jones for court spot

Tuesday, June 10, 2003 | 10:55 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- After some behind-the-scenes controversy, President Bush nominated 20-year U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Clive Jones to be a U.S. District Court judge.

By Senate tradition, Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., had submitted a list of four potential nominees to the White House to fill a spot on the federal bench that will open later this year. But Bush rejected the first list, which included the name of Leif Reid, a lawyer and the son of Senate Minority Whip Harry Reid, D-Nev. Bush has blamed Democratic leaders for unfairly blocking a vote on two controversial judge nominees.

Jones emerged as the best candidate in talks between Ensign and White House officials, Ensign spokesman Jack Finn said. "Judge Jones had been on our radar screen for some time," Finn said.

Jones, 55, a Las Vegas native, graduated from UCLA law school in 1975. He has been on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court since 1983 and served as chief judge from 1984 to 1993.

Jones was unavailable for comment but said in a statement: "I truly appreciate Senator Ensign's confidence in submitting my name on an extended list of judicial candidates for White House consideration."