With Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist pushing for a May vote on North Carolina U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle's nomination to the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, an online news agency is reporting that Boyle ruled in multiple cases involving corporations in which he held investments.

Salon.com and the Center for Investigative Reporting reported late Sunday that an investigation by those two agencies revealed Boyle presided over a lawsuit against General Electric, in which the corporation stood accused of illegally denying disability benefits to a long-standing employee.

Salon reports a review of Boyle's financial filings showed that deep into the 2004 case, he bought stock in General Electric. Two months later, Boyle ruled to deny the plaintiff's claims to long-term and pension disability benefits, granting him only a fraction of the money in short-term compensation for a mental condition.

Salon also is reporting that Boyle, 60, has violated federal law prohibiting judicial conflicts of interest in other instances as well since his nomination by President Bush five years ago to the appeals court based in Richmond, Va., which hears appeals from five states.

Boyle's nomination has been blocked by Democrats who fear the judge would set back civil rights legislation and hurt rights for people with disabilities. He received a Senate hearing last spring, but a floor vote has been blocked by a threatened filibuster.

In recent weeks, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole has been pushing Frist to bring Boyle back up for a vote, her spokeswoman said.

The White House was pleased with Dole's efforts.

"Judge Boyle was nominated almost five years ago, and the 4th Circuit vacancy has been declared a judicial emergency," said Jeanie Mamo, a White House spokeswoman. "Judge Boyle has a distinguished record of judicial service and should be confirmed immediately."