Obama Nominates U.S. District Judge in Middle Florida; New Opening in South Florida

President Obama nominated Judge Brian J. Davis to serve on the U.S. District Court in Florida, just as another seat is opening in the Southern District

Davis, who would serve in the Middle District of Florida, was tapped Wednesday to replace Richard A. Lazzara, a Bill Clinton appointee of 1997.

Lazzara, who is taking "senior status," achieved a bit of notoriety in 2008 when he upheld the right of the Democratic National Committee to strip Florida delegates of their voting powers in a contest over the state's early presidential primary.

Davis currently serves as a circuit judge for the 4th Judicial Circuit of Florida, a position he has held since 1994. He was chief assistant state attorney in the state attorneys office for the 4th Circuit from 1991 to 1994, and worked in the same office as an assistant state attorney from 1982 to 1988.

He previously worked at the civil litigation firms of Brown, Terrell, Hogan, Ellis, McClamma & Yegelwel from 1988 to 1991 and at Mahoney, Hadlow & Adams PA from 1980 to 1982.

Davis received his J.D. in 1980 from the University of Florida College of Law and his B.A. in 1974 from Princeton University.

Meanwhile, applications are being accepted for a U.S. District judgeship for the Southern District of Florida. The position opened with the recent confirmation of Judge Adalberto Jordan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta.

Applications must be received by the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission by March 26, said chairman John Fitzgibbons.