Obama pulls appeals court nominee twice blocked by GOP President Obama is withdrawing his nominee to a federal appeals court after Republicans twice blocked her confirmation. The White House says Obama notified the Senate on Friday that he was pulling his nomination for Caitlin Halligan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Senate Republicans blocked Halligan's confirmation for a second time in early March, denying Obama a key judicial appointment. Republicans argue that Halligan is too liberal, citing her work on lawsuits against gun manufacturers and on behalf of illegal immigrants. Obama had said he is "deeply disappointed" in the Senate's action, and Democrats have accused the GOP of trying to maintain a conservative majority on a key appellate court. Halligan is general counsel for the New York County District Attorney's Office.