A civil rights coalition, comprising of 200 national organizations released a letter to two senators concerning the gridlock of a Latino judicial nominee.

Addressed to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights' President and CEO Wade Henderson and Executive Vice President Nancy Zirkin wrote their support for Judge Dax Eric Lopez, who was nominated by President Barack Obama on July 30, 2015, but encountered a hurdle courtesy of Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga.

Lopez was nominated to serve on the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, and if he had been confirmed, he would be the first Latino to serve as a lifetime-appointed federal judge in Georgia. As Latin Post reported, Perdue said he feels "uncomfortable" supporting Lopez due to the Latino's affiliation with the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO). Perdue was able to talk to Lopez, but despite the meeting, the Georgia senator's concerns did not ease. As a result, Lopez will not have his hearing day with the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Henderson and Zirkin condemned Perdue's decision, noting Lopez's legal record as judge on the State Court of DeKalb County since 2010, handling both civil and criminal matters. Lopez was appointed to the DeKalb state court by then-Republican Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.

"In September, when President Obama nominated Judge Lopez to fill a federal judgeship, State Republican Party counsel Anne Lewis, former state House Majority Whip Ed Lindsey, and other prominent Republicans signed a letter of support to Senators [John] Isakson and Perdue. ... In fact, both Georgia Senators told the White House Counsel's office that they supported the nomination, which Sen. Isakson still does. Surprisingly, Sen. Purdue has reversed himself, and now opposes Lopez," wrote Henderson and Zirkin.

The letter recognized GALEO as a "highly respected bipartisan organization" promoting civic engagement and leadership across Latino communities in Georgia. Henderson and Zirkin said Lopez should not be disqualified to serve as a federal judge due to his affiliation with GALEO, and called for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for the nominee to address any questions concerning his qualifications or views.

"We ask you to support the historic nomination of Dax Lopez to a federal judgeship. Hiding behind immigration politics and blocking judicial nominations does serious damage to the judicial system and is an irresponsible abdication of the Senate's constitutional responsibility of advice and consent on nominees," Henderson and Zirkin added.

Also awaiting progress in his judicial nomination is Armando Bonilla, who would become the first Latino to serve the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. There have been success for other Latino judicial nominees last month as the Senate confirmed Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo, on Jan. 11, to serve the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and John Michael Vazquez to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.