04.20.23

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nine Nominees For Confirmation By Full Senate

WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced nine nominations on a bipartisan basis for consideration by the full Senate. 

“First and foremost, on behalf of all members of the Committee, I wish Senator Feinstein a speedy recovery and return. Our Committee continues to advance diverse, highly-qualified nominees for confirmation to the federal bench, and that mission remains as strong as ever. I appreciate the bipartisan support earned by each of today’s nominees, and we will continue to call and vote on these nominations in Senator Feinstein’s absence. As I’ve said from the very beginning of this Congress, I encourage all home state senators to build on our record progress and engage in good faith with the White House to identify candidates for judicial vacancies – and help fulfill our Committee’s goal to help ensure a fair justice system for America,” said U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Additionally, today’s agenda included a legislative package – Stopping the Exploitation of Kids Online – that includes a bill unveiled by Senator Durbin on the Senate floor last night. This package is a continuation of the Committee’s bipartisan work to protect kids online that began with the Committee’s February hearing on children’s online safety.

The following nominees advanced by the indicated vote totals. Other nominees on the agenda were held over for future consideration.

  • Mónica Ramírez Almadani, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California: 12-9;
  • Jeffrey Irvine Cummings, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois: 12-9; 
  • Michael Farbiarz, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey: 17-4; 
  • Wesley L. Hsu, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California: 13-8;
  • LaShonda A. Hunt, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois: 14-7;
  • Robert Kirsch, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey: 13-8; 
  • Orelia Eleta Merchant, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York: 12-9; 
  • Todd Gee, to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi: advanced on voice vote; and
  • William R. Hart, to be United States Marshal for the District of New Hampshire: 13-8.

An archived video of today’s hearing can be found here.

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