Durbin Delivers Opening Statements In Latest Judicial & Executive Nominations Hearing
Today’s nominees include Lucy Haeran Koh, nominated to the Ninth Circuit, and Jonathan Kanter, to lead DOJ’s Antitrust Division
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 Lucy Haeran Koh, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Jane M. Beckering, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Michigan; Shalina D. Kumar, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; Armando O. Bonilla, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims; Carolyn N. Lerner, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims; and Jonathan Kanter, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division. During his opening remarks, Durbin noted that the nominees are highly qualified and bring important professional and demographic diversity to their positions.
Key quotes:
“The nominees before us are all—every one—exceptionally well-qualified. They include a sitting federal district court judge with 14 years of experience on the bench. Two state court judges with three decades of judicial experience between them. A former Senate-confirmed government watchdog who saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars by investigating and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse to the federal government. A nominee who has litigated more than 100 cases before the Court of Federal Claims—the court to which he has been nominated. And one of the country’s foremost experts on antitrust law.”
“Second, these five judicial nominees will bring incredible professional and demographic diversity to the administration of justice. Judge Koh, for instance, would be the first Korean-American woman to sit on a federal appeals court. Judge Kumar, the first federal judge of South Asian descent to sit on a district court in Michigan. Mr. Bonilla, the first ever Latino judge on the Court of Federal Claims.”
“Further, in addition to their judicial experience, the nominees before us have worked as plaintiffs’ [side] attorneys, civil litigators for the government, criminal prosecutors, and mediators.”
“I want to commend the Biden Administration and my colleagues for continuing this important effort to balance our courts with outstanding nominees—nominees who understand the role of a judge, whose credentials are second to none, and who are ready to hit the ground running.”
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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