Bush nominates New York's Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue for seat on federal bench

(AP) Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue, a former state judge who has served as Gov. George Pataki's runningmate in the last two elections, has been nominated for a federal judgeship by President Bush.

Donohue's nomination, announced by the White House on Wednesday evening, is subject to Senate confirmation. She would replace the retired Frederick Scullin Jr. as a U.S. District judge for the Northern District of New York. The post, a liftetime appointment, pays $165,200 a year.

Donohue's nomination had been expected. She had been recommended for the judgeship by Pataki.

Pataki picked Donohue, then a judge on New York's major state trial court, the state Supreme Court, to become his runningmate in 1998 as he sought a second four-year.

A former Rensselaer County district attorney, Donohue was selected by Pataki after he dumped his first lieutenant governor, Betsy McCaughey Ross, from the GOP ticket. McCaughey Ross switched to the Democratic Party and then lost a primary in an attempt to win her new party's nomination to challenge Pataki's re-election.

Pataki announced almost a year ago that he would not seek a fourth term this year. Donohue never made any effort to win the GOP nomination to replace Pataki as governor. Former state Assembly Minority Leader John Faso is the Republican nominee for governor this year and Pataki is eyeing a run for the 2008 GOP nomination for governor.