In a rare rebuke of Florida's senior senator by a fellow Democrat, the president of the Cuban-American Bar Association is criticizing Sen. Bill Nelson for reappointing a top Republican fundraiser to a powerful panel that screens potential federal judges.

Roland Sanchez-Medina said he and other Cuban-American Democrats who tried to contact Nelson's office about the appointments were ignored.

He said these Cuban-Americans had long resisted community pressure to become Republicans and backed Democrat Barack Obama in the 2008 election.

''I was hopeful that some day, those of us who persevered would be rewarded on some level . . . and after this past election, I finally believed that day would come; that we would have a clear and unambiguous voice in the political process,'' he wrote in the March 4 letter sent to Nelson.

``To be clear, this is not an issue of ego, but rather one involving whether or not my community will have a voice in matters that I consider profoundly important.''

In an interview, Sanchez-Medina said judicial applicants should be judged on their qualifications, but politics routinely play a role.

''Sens. Nelson and Martinez chose Judicial Nominating Commission members without regard to partisan affiliation,'' a statement from Nelson spokesman Dan McLaughlin said.

``In the end, they have a panel that offers a great deal of legal talent.''

Since the Democratic Party controls the White House, Nelson made the bulk of the most recent appointments. He did choose three Cuban-Americans attorneys for the panel. Two are Democrats -- Steve Zack and Georgina Angones.

The other, Manny Kadre, served as Florida's finance chairman for Republican presidential nominee John McCain. Kadre has donated tens of thousands of dollars to a number of Republican politicians, but he has also written several checks to Nelson.

The group will also be responsible for replacing U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta in the spring.

''At a time when the controversy regarding the impact of politics on the appointment of U.S. attorneys is still swirling in Washington, it's best for the selection process if partisan politics is not introduced,'' said Fort Lauderdale attorney Justin Sayfie, a Republican member of the panel and former chairman of its southern section.

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