A former interim U.S. Attorney for Connecticut was nominated Wednesday to fill a vacant seat on the state’s Superior Court.

John A. Danaher III (Gov)

Gov. M. Jodi Rell nominated ^[1] former interim U.S. Attorney John A. Danaher III along with nine other candidates.

Danaher led the New Haven, Conn.-based U.S. Attorney’s office as its interim chief from May 2001 to November 2002. He joined the office in 1986 and worked there until 2007, when he became Rell’s public safety commissioner.

The nominations may lead to fight between the governor and the legislature, the Connecticut Mirror reported ^[2]. Although the court currently has 20 open spots, court officials and some legislators had asked the governor not to nominate candidates for the seat because of a budget crunch.

Rell’s office didn’t have an immediate comment for the Mirror. But in a news release announcing the nominations, Rell said the positions needed to be filled to ensure continued efficient service in the courts.