Durbin Speaks on Senate Floor Prior To Senate Confirmation of Shah to Fill Federal Judgeship in Northern District of Illinois
DURBIN SPEAKS ON SENATE FLOOR PRIOR TO SENATE CONFIRMATION OF SHAH TO FILL FEDERAL JUDGESHIP IN NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has confirmed Manish Shah for a federal judgeship in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. The Senate approved Shah by a vote of 95-0.
Speaking on the Senate Floor shortly before the vote, Durbin said: “Manish Shah is an outstanding nominee. He has the experience, qualifications and integrity to serve with distinction on the federal bench. Mr. Shah’s nomination is also a historic one. Upon confirmation, he will be the first Article III judge of South Asian descent to serve in the state of Illinois. In short, Mr. Shah is an excellent nominee and I hope my colleagues will join me in voting to confirm him.”
Durbin chaired Shah’s confirmation hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Durbin is a member, in November. His nomination was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in January after receiving a unanimous voice vote. Video of Durbin introducing Shah at his confirmation hearing is available here.
Video of Durbin’s full statement is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s full statement is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s full statement will be available shortly for TV Stations using FTP in high definition here and in standard definition here.
Durbin’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:
Nomination of Manish Shah to serve on the
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
April 30, 2014
I rise to speak in support of Manish Shah, who has been nominated to serve as a federal district court judge in the Northern District of Illinois.
Manish Shah is an outstanding nominee. He has the experience, qualifications and integrity to serve with distinction on the federal bench.
Mr. Shah was nominated to fill the seat that became vacant when Judge Joan Lefkow took senior status.
In Illinois we have a bipartisan process for recommending judicial candidates to the White House, and it has worked well to produce quality candidates. Mr. Shah was initially recommended by my colleague Senator Kirk, and I fully supported the recommendation.
Mr. Shah has a distinguished record of service in the Chicago community. Since 2001, he has worked as a federal prosecutor in the Northern District of Illinois’ U.S. Attorney’s Office.
He currently serves as the Chief of the Criminal Division in that office. Previously he served as the Chief of Criminal Appeals, Deputy Chief of Financial Crimes & Special Prosecutions, and Deputy Chief of the General Crimes Section.
Mr. Shah has won numerous awards and recognitions for his work in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including the FBI Director’s Award for Outstanding Criminal Investigation.
Mr. Shah is a graduate of Stanford University and the University of Chicago Law School. He clerked for two years for Judge James Zagel of the Northern District of Illinois.
Mr. Shah’s nomination is a historic one. Upon confirmation, he will be the first Article III judge of South Asian descent to serve in the state of Illinois.
Mr. Shah appeared before the Judiciary Committee last November in a hearing that I chaired. He was reported out of the Judiciary Committee on January 16 by a unanimous voice vote.
In short, Mr. Shah is an excellent nominee and I hope my colleagues will join me in voting to confirm him.