Connecticut Court Nominee Withdraws Over Immigrant Remark
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/23/nyreg ... ref=slogin

Published: August 23, 2007
HARTFORD, Aug. 22 (AP) — Judge John R. Downey of State Superior Court, Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s nominee for the State Appellate Court, withdrew his name from consideration on Wednesday after court transcripts showed that he had mistakenly claimed that only legal residents could use the court system.

The withdrawal took place a day after Judge Downey was questioned by lawmakers about that remark and comments he made during a court proceeding praising former Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, a longtime segregationist.

Judge Downey, in a letter to the leaders of the legislature’s Judiciary Committee, apologized and said his views on the illegal immigration issue “have evolved.â€