OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The American Bar Association has issued a rare rating of “not qualified” to an Omaha attorney and former state prosecutor nominated for a seat on the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The association said in a statement Monday that its committee on the federal judiciary had unanimously found Steve Grasz not qualified to fill a vacancy on the appellate court. The statement cited reports by two evaluators for the ABA that found a number of lawyers, judges and others associated with Grasz believed the anti-abortion advocate would not be able to set aside his personal bias on that issue and others in carrying out his judicial duties.

Grasz was out of the office Tuesday and did not immediately return a message left for him.