Gerald Ford judicial appointment controversies Herbert De Simone (nominated August 5, 1976), and James Andersen (nominated August 6, 1976). Gerald Ford judicial appointment controversies During President Gerald Ford's presidency, he nominated two people for two different federal appellate judgeships who were not processed by the Democratic-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee before Ford's presidency ended. Neither of the two nominees was renominated by Ford's successor, President Jimmy Carter. Both nominees were nominated after July 1, 1976, the traditional start date of the unofficial Thurmond Rule during a presidential election year. Both seats eventually were filled by appointees of President Jimmy Carter. The two nominees were blocked in
Gerald Brekke Gerald Brekke Gerald Wayne Brekke (September 1, 1922 – March 28, 2006) was a Minnesota politician and educator who ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in 1976, Minnesota Secretary of State in 1978, and United States House of Representatives in 2000. He was Assistant Director of Special Projects in the Office of Overseas Dependent Education for the United States Department of Defense from 1974-1975, an appointment made by President Gerald Ford. Brekke was a Professor of Education at Gustavus Adolphus College from 1962 to 1987, where he taught thousands of students and established the Minnesota Student Teachers' Association. After