(Reuters) – U.S. Circuit Choose Robert King on Wednesday explained to the White Dwelling he experienced transformed his intellect about stepping down from lively assistance on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court docket of Appeals, removing a vacancy President Joe Biden could fill.

King, an appointee of previous Democratic President Monthly bill Clinton who has served on the Richmond, Virginia-primarily based appeals courtroom given that 1998, mentioned in August he would take senior position on the affirmation of a successor.

But in a letter reviewed by Reuters, King, 81, suggested Biden that, “immediately after careful thing to consider, I have resolved to proceed for the foreseeable upcoming in standard energetic assistance” and would withdraw his earlier Aug. 23 letter to the White Residence.

“I apologize for any inconvenience I may well have brought on,” King wrote.

It was unclear why King modified his strategies. A clerk for the West Virginia decide verified he was no more time preparing to consider senior status but experienced no further more comment. King did not answer to a ask for for comment.

The 4th Circuit hears appeals from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. The court has nine lively Democrat-appointed judges, together with King, and six Republican-appointed judges.

Biden has nominated just one decide so considerably to the court docket, Toby Heytens, whom the Senate confirmed in November.

King’s letter indicated he sent copies to West Virginia’s Democratic Senator Joe Manchin and Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito. Senators are generally included in recommending judicial nominees to fill vacancies in their states.

Representatives for Manchin and Capito did not reply to requests for remark.

John Collins, a law professor at George Washington College who reports the judiciary, claimed the selection by a judge to reverse system on having senior standing is “not unprecedented, but it is unconventional.”

He explained it was probable an challenge emerged with his alternative, some thing that happened in 2018 when U.S. Circuit Judge Michael Kanne of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals similarly transformed his programs.

Kanne had planned to consider senior status contingent on an ex-clerk, Indiana Solicitor Typical Tom Fisher, being nominated to choose his position.

But then-Vice President Mike Pence, the previous governor of Indiana, opposed the pick, and President Donald Trump did not nominate him, prompting Kanne to rescind his selection to assume senior standing.

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New 4th Circuit emptiness opens, as WV-primarily based judge requires senior status