WASHINGTON, D.C. (WSAZ) -- United States Senators Jay Rockefeller and Robert C. Byrd once again nominated Irene Berger and Ned Rose for federal judge positions in West Virginia.

Berger is a Kanawha County Circuit Judge. Rose is a lawyer in Charleston and former campaign manager for Byrd's campaign.

The Senators recommend Berger fill a vacancy in the Southern District and Rose take a seat in the Northern District.

The letter to President-elect Barack Obama states, "Both Judge Berger and Mr. Rose have earned the respect of the legal community throughout the State of West Virginia, and we believe they would make exceptional Federal judges, serving with honor and distinction, just as Judge Faber and Judge Broadwater served before them.”

Judge David Faber assumed senior status at the end of last year, creating a vacancy in the Southern District. The Northern District has a vacancy with the death of Judge Craig Broadwater.

The Democratic senators recommended Berger in 2004 and Rose in 2007 under the Republican administration of President George Bush.

Berger has been a judge in Kanawha County for 14 years. She won re-election as an unopposed candidate in November, pulling in the highest number of votes for any countywide candidate at more than 54,000. If appointed, she would be West Virginia's first African-American federal judge.