Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Latest Circuit & District Court Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Gabriel P. Sanchez, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Samantha D. Elliott, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Hampshire; Linda Lopez, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California; Katherine Marie Menendez, to be United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota; Jinsook Ohta, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California; and David Herrera Urias, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico.
During his opening remarks, Durbin noted that the nominees are highly qualified and bring important professional and demographic diversity to their positions.
Key quotes:
“Today’s slate represents a continued effort by the Biden Administration and Senate Democrats to advance nominees with the very best credentials, who also bring professional and demographic diversity to our federal courts.”
“It is an impressive group before us today. We have four sitting judges with strong records of judicial independence and an evenhanded approach to justice. Two nominees spent a large portion of their careers as federal public defenders, offering a perspective too often missing from the bench. These individuals also have significant experience litigating in federal court.”
“In addition to their experiential diversity, this slate includes demographic diversity. Judge Lopez would be the only active Latina judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. And Judge Ohta would be the first AAPI woman to ever sit on that court.”
Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.
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