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Judicial Nominations
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I have good news. This week, the U.S. Senate is going to consider five highly qualified Federal district court nominees. Before briefly speaking on their records, I want to make a few broad observations.
First, each of these nominations was recommended by the White House, by their home State Senators, or, in the case of the D.C. District Court, by District of Columbia Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton. I want to commend my colleagues--they did their job. They continued to identify and recommend nominees who have the experience and the temperament needed to serve on the Federal bench.
Second, these nominees represent an important cross-section of professional diversity. They have served as public defenders. They have also been prosecutors, civil rights attorneys, municipal lawyers, and even sitting judges.
Third, all five of these nominees received bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee. How about that, bipartisan support in the committee. That is a testament to their abilities, qualifications, and character. I thank my Republican colleagues who made that possible.
Finally, these nominees understand the limited role a judge plays in our judicial system. They have to be guided by evenhandedness, impartiality, and fidelity to the rule of law. We have seen that in their records. These records have been scrupulously reviewed by staff on both sides--Democrat, Republican, in addition to the White House, obviously. We have seen it in their testimony before the Judiciary Committee, and we have seen it in the broad support they had from the legal communities where they live.
Let me tell you a bit about each of them.
First is Jia Cobb, nominated to the District Court for the District of Columbia. Ms. Cobb has more than 15 years of experience as a trial litigator. She has tried more than 30 cases to verdict in both civil and criminal cases. This depth of experience is one of the reasons she was rated unanimously--unanimously--``well qualified'' by the American Bar Association.
For nearly a decade, she has represented people seeking to uphold their rights when it comes to the Nation's housing, disability, and employment discrimination laws.
Critically, Ms. Cobb understands the distinction between being an advocate and a judge. As a judge on the District of D.C., she has promised to rule based on the law and facts of the cases before her.
Next is Judge Karen Williams, nominated to the District of New Jersey. Like Ms. Cobb, Judge Williams was unanimously rated ``well qualified'' by the ABA. That is a testament to her integrity, temperament, and experience, which includes 12 years as a Federal magistrate judge and another two decades as a practicing litigator.
She has the strong support of both Senators from New Jersey, Menendez and Booker, and many throughout the New Jersey legal community.
We will also be voting this week on the nomination of Patricia Giles to the Eastern District of Virginia. Ms. Giles has a deep understanding of the district which she has been nominated to serve. As a Federal prosecutor, she tried more than 20 cases to verdict, and prosecutors and defense counsel alike have praised her fairness and her tenacity.
Ms. Giles also received a unanimous ``well qualified'' rating from the American Bar Association and has the strong support of her Senators, Warner and Kaine.
The Senate will consider Judge Michael Nachmanoff, nominated to the Eastern District of Virginia. He has served as a Federal magistrate judge since 2015, following an accomplished career as the district's appointed Federal defender.
Judge Nachmanoff also received a unanimous ``well qualified'' rating from the ABA. He has the strong support of both Virginia Senators. Like Ms. Giles, Judge Nachmanoff received praise from prosecutors and defense attorneys alike. It is a testament to his integrity and evenhandedness.
Finally, the Senate is going to consider Sarala Nagala, nominated to the District of Connecticut bench. Ms. Nagala is an accomplished Federal prosecutor. She has devoted her career to very serious cases involving human trafficking, child exploitation, identity theft, hate crimes, and fraud.
Like each of the nominees, she received a unanimous rating of ``well qualified'' from the ABA and has strong support from Senators Blumenthal and Murphy.
I ask all my colleagues to join me in supporting these five extremely high-qualified nominees. With their record, experience, and evenhanded approach, they will be ready on day one to serve in the critically important role of district court judge.
Finally, let me say that for many of these people, this decision to move forward and ask for appointment to the Federal judiciary carries with it status and admiration from many people--most people--but it also may mean some personal sacrifices. They are now going to be officially in public life, and that brings with it, as we all know, some burdens. They are willing to accept that and their families are willing to accept it as they continue to serve as Federal judges.
I hope my colleagues will join me in approving them. I hope it is done this week in a timely manner.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 188
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