[Senate Hearing 107-554]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 107-554
NOMINATIONS OF HON. TODD WALTHER DILLARD AND ROBERT R. RIGSBY
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
ON THE
NOMINATIONS OF HON. TODD WALTHER DILLARD TO BE U.S. MARSHAL FOR THE
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND ROBERT R. RIGSBY TO BE
AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
__________
MAY 16, 2002
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Governmental Affairs
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___________________________________________________________________________
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COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut, Chairman
CARL LEVIN, Michigan FRED THOMPSON, Tennessee
DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii TED STEVENS, Alaska
RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine
ROBERT G. TORRICELLI, New Jersey GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio
MAX CLELAND, Georgia THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware ROBERT F. BENNETT, Utah
JEAN CARNAHAN, Missouri JIM BUNNING, Kentucky
MARK DAYTON, Minnesota PETER G. FITZGERALD, Illinois
Joyce A. Rechtschaffen, Staff Director and Counsel
Jason M. Yanussi, Professional Staff Member
Jennifer E. Hamilton, Research Assistant
Marianne Clifford Upton, Staff Director and Chief Counsel, Oversight of
Government Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia
Subcommittee
Richard A. Hertling, Minority Staff Director
Johanna, L. Hardy, Minority Counsel
Andrew Richardson, Minority Staff Director, Oversight of Government
Management,
Restructuring and the District of Columbia Subcommittee
Darla D. Cassell, Chief Clerk
C O N T E N T S
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Opening statement:
Page
Senator Durbin............................................... 1
Prepared statements:
Senator Cleland.............................................. 11
Senator Bunning.............................................. 11
WITNESSES
Thursday, May 16, 2002
Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Delegate in Congress from the
District of Columbia........................................... 3
Hon. Todd Walther Dillard to be U.S. Marshal for the Superior
Court of the District of Columbia.............................. 4
Robert R. Rigsby to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court
of the District of Columbia.................................... 4
Alphabetical List of Witnesses
Dillard, Hon. Todd Walther:
Testimony.................................................... 4
Prepared statement........................................... 13
Biographical and professional information.................... 14
Pre-hearing questions and responses.......................... 19
Norton, Hon. Eleanor Holmes:
Testimony.................................................... 3
Rigsby, Robert R.:
Testimony.................................................... 4
Prepared statement........................................... 27
Biographical and professional information.................... 31
Appendix
Hon. Paul Strauss, Shadow U.S. Senator elected by the voters of
the District of Columbia, prepared statement................... 12
NOMINATIONS OF HON. TODD WALTHER DILLARD AND ROBERT R. RIGSBY
----------
THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2002
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Governmental Affairs,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:44 p.m., in
room SD-342, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Richard J.
Durbin presiding.
Present: Senator Durbin.
OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR DURBIN
Senator Durbin. The hearing will come to order. Good
afternoon and welcome to all. Today, the Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs holds a hearing to consider two
nominations pending before the Committee: Robert Rigsby to be
an Associate Judge in the District of Columbia Superior Court,
and Hon. Todd Walther Dillard to be U.S. Marshal for the
District of Columbia Superior Court.
On March 4, 2002, President Bush nominated Robert Rigsby to
be an associate judge on the Superior Court of the District of
Columbia for a 15-year term to fill the vacancy created by the
elevation of Judge Reggie Walton to the Federal bench.
Mr. Rigsby is presently the corporation counsel for the
District of Columbia. He is the top local prosecutor in Mayor
Williams' administration, a post he has held since being
confirmed by the City Council in February 2000. Prior to
assuming the helm of the office he served as head of the
criminal division and head of the enforcement division. He also
spent a month in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern
District of Virginia prior to joining the D.C. Government.
From 1987 until 1992 he served in the U.S. Army with the
Judge Advocate General Corps and is currently an Army
reservist. He received his undergraduate degree from San Jose
State University in 1983 and his juris doctorate from the
University of California-Hastings College of Law in 1986.
President Bush nominated Mr. Dillard on February 6, 2002,
for the position of U.S. Marshal for the Superior Court of the
District of Columbia for a 4-year term. Mr. Dillard is being
reappointed to a position he has held since being sworn in on
December 2, 1990 following unanimous confirmation by the full
Senate on October 27 the same year.
Prior to being named a U.S. Marshal Mr. Dillard served for
25 years in the U.S. Secret Service attaining the rank of
criminal investigator and inspector. He holds an MBA from
Cornell University.
Mr. Rigsby and Mr. Dillard, I am certain this is a very
special day for each of you. Mr. Dillard, I note that you
appeared before this Committee on October 19, 1990 when the
U.S. Marshal post was first created in the District. And Mr.
Rigsby, I note that you were here as a supportive spouse on May
10, 2000 when your wife Anna Blackburne Rigsby's nomination to
the Superior Court bench was considered.
So I welcome both of you back today. I understand that you
may have some family members with you, as well as colleagues
and friends. Let me call on you to introduce them at this time.
First, Mr. Dillard.
Mr. Dillard. Thank you very much. I do have with me my son
and my three top staff people. My very tolerant and supportive
wife of 42 years could not be here. My son, Special Agent Don
Dillard is here, with the U.S. Secret Service. In addition, I
would like to introduce my three top staff people, without whom
I could not even hope to do the job that I have been doing for
a good while now. The first one is my Chief Deputy, Charles
Rowe; my Assistant Chief Deputy, Mike Mitchell; and my
Administrative Support Person, Mrs. Ethel Bradley.
Thank you.
Senator Durbin. Thank you very much. Mr. Rigsby.
Mr. Rigsby. Good afternoon, sir. I would like to start by
introducing my wife of almost 10 years, my judge, Anna
Blackburne Rigsby. Our son of 4 years, he is running around
here somewhere, Julian Christopher Rigsby.
Senator Durbin. We note his presence.
Mr. Rigsby. Thank you. My mother-in-law, who is also a
Supreme Court judge in New York, Laura Blackburne. My two
sisters-in-law, Dr. Rose Blackburne, and Faith Blackburne.
Rose's fiance Anthony Shurn is here and my cousin Lieutenant
Colonel Jeannette Hammond. My brother, Dr. Rick Ribsby, who is
a college professor at Texas A&M is giving a speech out of the
country--he could not be here. And both of my parents, Roger
and Viola Rigsby--they died before this process began, but I
have quite a few other people here who have been like parents
to me and role models for me.
The mayor could not be here today. He has been a great
supporter and a great friend. Our city administrator is here,
Hon. John Koskinen, who is like an older brother. John Payton
is here, the President of the D.C. Bar who is our son's
godfather and who has been like a father to me and a big
brother. Jeff Robinson is here, who is a brother to me. Mike
Madigan, who is a big, big, big brother to me.
Senator Durbin. I know Mr. Madigan. Good to see you again.
Mr. Rigsby. My first boss in the U.S. Army JAG Corps,
Colonel Mac Squires is here, in the back, at Fort Campbell,
Kentucky. Colonel Bolden is here, who is a good friend and
supporter. Lieutenant Colonel Raphael Peart is here; Lieutenant
Colonel Cantwell; my Command Sergeant Major of my Reserve unit
is here, Varney Smith. My office, the Office of the Corporation
Counsel, my principal deputy who runs the office, Arabella Teal
is here. My senior deputies, John Greenhaugh, a retired
colonel; Sharon Styles-Anderson, Charlie Barbera, Darryl
Gorman, and Peter Lavalle. They are all here today, along with
my executive assistant, who practices law better than anybody
else in the office, Denize Blake, she runs my life also.
And we have several members of the bench that are here that
are good friends: The Hon. Richard Roberts, who is a Federal
judge is here; the Hon. Anita Josie Herring, who is a good
friend and colleague is here; the Hon. Lee Satterfield is here
who is also a good friend; and the Hon. Mary Terrell. Someone
who is like a brother to me, the Hon. Eric Christian, I believe
is here. And I believe the former Chief Judge, the Hon. Eugene
Hamilton should be coming here. He is like a father to me also.
Members of my fraternity are here, my college fraternity;
Lloyd Jordan who has been a friend; Dr. Ivan Walks who is the
chief medical officer for the city of Washington is here. I
know I am going to miss someone, Senator, but I have got a
whole host of family and friends that have been supportive over
the years that are here, and I am just so proud.
I cannot forget--members of my church, Shiloh Baptist
Church, the church that embraced Anna and I since I arrived in
Washington in 1992 are here; several deacons, Deacon Dudley and
Mrs. Dudley, and Deacon Bridgeport. I just wanted to make sure
I mentioned them. I am not going to take up any more time
because they are all very, very, very supportive.
Senator Durbin. I would say, Congresswoman Norton, that we
should move this hearing along quickly because it sounds like
there are voice mails accumulating all over D.C. Government.
[Laughter.]
Hearings that are being continued in courtrooms across the
United States, and with all of the military people here I am
worried about our national security if we do not get them back
to work. So let me recognize my friend and colleague
Congresswoman Norton at this time.
TESTIMONY OF HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, A DELEGATE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Ms. Norton. Mr. Chairman, noting your role as the Chair of
our authorizing Committee I do want to assure you that I
believe the work of the District of Columbia is still being
done during this hearing.
It is always a pleasure to introduce judges and other
personnel who have been nominated by the President to our
Superior Court. It is a special pleasure to recommend to you
Mr. Rigsby, Robert R. Rigsby, who is our corporation counsel,
and who worked his way up to that position by showing his
excellence. You have already, I think, amply covered his
positions before that time. Considering the time that has gone
past I will only say that I strongly recommend him based on his
splendid record in the District of Columbia and the notes you
have already given as to his background.
It is my pleasure as well to recommend to you Hon. Todd W.
Dillard, who has been nominated by the President to be the
Marshal for the Superior Court. Mr. Dillard has a classic
preparation for the position, most of it in the Secret Service
but 10 years in the Marshal's Service; well-educated before
that. It is a great pleasure for me to introduce them both to
you and I proudly recommend them both to you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Durbin. Congresswoman Norton, thank you again for
coming to this side of the Capitol to be part of this Committee
hearing and the consideration of both nominees. I know what
your schedule is like so you are certainly excused, from my
point of view, if you need to go about the work of the District
of Columbia and I wish you well. Thank you very much for being
with us.
Ms. Norton. Thank you.
Senator Durbin. Now it is customary at this point to swear
in witnesses before the Committee and I would ask you each to
stand and raise your right hand.
[Witnesses sworn.]
Senator Durbin. Thank you. Let the record note that both
witnesses answered in the affirmative. I note that you each
have submitted a written statement which will be made part of
the record. If you would like to have brief opening remarks at
this point, I welcome them. Let us start first with Mr.
Dillard.
TESTIMONY OF HON. TODD WALTHER DILLARD \1\ TO BE U.S. MARSHAL
FOR THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Mr. Dillard. Thank you, Senator. I would just like to take
this opportunity to thank President Bush, first of all, for
nominating me for this position. I would like to thank Chairman
Lieberman, and of course Senator Durbin and the other Members
of the Committee for holding this confirmation hearing. I would
also like to thank Congresswoman Norton for her very gracious
introduction and for her support.
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\1\ The prepared statement of Mr. Dillard appears in the Appendix
on page 13.
The biographical information for Mr. Dillard appears in the
Appendix on page 14.
Pre-hearing questions and responses from Mr. Dillard appear in the
Appendix on page 19.
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As a native Virginian, I would like to thank Senator Warner
for his continued support through the years. I would be very
remiss if I did not thank God for the health that he has given
me to be able to continue in this work. And I would like to
thank the American public for allowing me to continue to serve.
I would like to thank the Members of this Committee for
granting me the time to introduce my family members and the
members of my staff. At this time I am prepared to answer any
questions you may have.
Senator Durbin. Thank you very much. Mr. Rigsby.
TESTIMONY OF ROBERT R. RIGSBY \2\ TO BE AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE OF
THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Mr. Rigsby. Thank you, Senator. First of all, I would like
to thank you for holding this hearing today. I cannot tell you
what an honor it is just to be here. I would like to thank the
respective staff members from each Senate office that took the
time to answer my millions of questions, and for walking me
through the process.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The prepared statement of Mr. Rigsby appears in the Appendix on
page 27.
The biographical information for Mr. Rigsby appears in the
Appendix on page 31.
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I am so honored to be here. I grew up in a small town in
California, Vallejo, California and in my hometown my parents--
my father who was from Huntsville, Texas and my mother was from
Okmulgee, Oklahoma, always believed in community and public
service. I cannot tell you how proud I think that they would
be, had they been here today, that their youngest son actually
is appearing here today.
My entire life I wanted to be an Army officer, and by the
gentlemen in this room I have tried to pattern my life after, I
thought the greatest gift that you could possibly give is to be
a military officer in defense of our values, our freedom, and
our country. The hardest thing for me, I told a friend of whom
I did not introduce today, Roger Washington, who is now a U.S.
Army Colonel, the hardest thing for me was to leave active duty
and to become a reservist. But in a lot of ways, it was a
further illustration of devoting yourself to your country in a
different way by serving Washington, DC.
Then-corporation counsel John Payton asked me to come to
his office to be his deputy almost 10 years ago because he
thought that the greatest gift that you could possibly give
would be to do something great in the city of Washington, DC.
That being said, I have embarked upon this journey in
Washington that has been phenomenal. I have enjoyed living
here. I have enjoyed working here. I have truly enjoyed public
service and look forward to continuing my service.
I married into a family of public servants. Obviously, you
know my wife is a terrific judge, and hopefully one day I can
be just like my best friend, my soulmate. She is the reason why
I am here. She is just a wonderful judge and a wonderful
person. Again, my mother-in-law is a terrific judge and a
terrific mother-in-law, and I can say that on the record or off
the record because I really do truly love her. And my father-
in-law, Elmer Blackburne, who could not be here today, is the
district leader in Queens, New York. Everybody in this family
believes in giving something back.
I just want to further my public service by becoming a
judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. I
cannot think of a better calling than being a judge here in the
District of Columbia.
I want to personally thank you for holding this hearing,
and thank you for allowing me to ramble on, and on, and on. I
really appreciate it.
Senator Durbin. Thank you very much, Mr. Rigsby. Your
comments recalled an experience I had shortly after being
elected to the Senate where I was called over across the street
to the Supreme Court, to the inner sanctum, to a huge hall
where they attracted Federal judges from across the United
States to meet with Chief Justice Rehnquist. At one point there
I was sitting down and he came and sat next to me as I made a
presentation to all these assembled judges. I said at the time
that my late mother and father would have been so proud, and my
professors at law school at Georgetown would have been totally
amazed to see me sitting there that day. [Laughter.]
Now you have been through a lot to have reached this point,
and you have gone through a very thorough screening process, a
thorough biographical questionnaire which, Mr. Rigsby, you may
have faced for the first time; Mr. Dillard, you faced again.
Background checks, interviews, they have looked under every
rock, they have asked everybody, friend and foe alike what they
think of you. And what has come through in the record is that
you both have extensive and exemplary records of public service
to the District of Columbia and to the country, and I commend
you for that.
Now it is customary and required under Committee rules that
I ask you several specific questions for the record so that
your answers are reflected in the minutes of this hearing.
First I will ask of Mr. Rigsby, is there anything that you are
aware of in your background that might present a conflict of
interest with the duties of the office to which you've been
nominated?
Mr. Rigsby. No, sir.
Senator Durbin. Mr. Dillard, the same question, is there
anything you are aware of in your background that might present
a conflict of interest with the duties of the office to which
you have been nominated?
Mr. Dillard. No, sir.
Senator Durbin. Second, Mr. Rigsby, do you know of any
reason, personal or otherwise, that would in any way prevent
you from fully and honorably discharging the responsibilities
of the office to which you have been nominated?
Mr. Rigsby. No, sir.
Senator Durbin. Mr. Dillard, do you know of any reason,
personal or otherwise, that would in any way prevent you from
fully and honorably discharging the responsibilities of the
office to which you have been nominated?
Mr. Dillard. No, sir.
Senator Durbin. Mr. Rigsby, do you know of any reason,
personal or otherwise, that would in any way prevent you from
serving the full term for the office to which you have been
nominated?
Mr. Rigsby. No, sir.
Senator Durbin. Mr. Dillard, do you know of any reason,
personal or otherwise, that would in any way prevent you from
serving the full term for the office to which you have been
nominated?
Mr. Dillard. No, sir.
Senator Durbin. Let the record reflect the witnesses have
each answered these questions in the negative.
I am going to direct a question to Mr. Rigsby, and that is
only reflective of the fact that, Mr. Dillard, you are a
veteran of this process. We have asked most of these questions
of you time and again, and we trust that your answers in the
past would be the same answers today.
But the one question I would like to ask Mr. Rigsby--and
this is a little delicate because it refers to something that
may be a family consideration as well as a professional
consideration, and it is a question about judicial temperament.
I can tell you that as a practicing attorney many years ago,
appearing before many judges, that some of them, the
appointment to the bench went straight to their head. Once they
put on the black robe they seemed to have lost their feet of
clay. They were now somehow in the divinity, well beyond the
reach of ordinary people. And it was reflected in the way that
they not only treated the lawyers, but the litigents who came
before them.
I would like for you, if you would, to reflect for a
moment, having been an attorney, knowing a few judges in your
life, what your thoughts are on this question of judicial
temperament.
Mr. Rigsby. Senator, I have had two great role models in
life--actually four great role models in life but two as
judges. I have had the wonderful opportunity in the last 2
years to watch a judge in my own home be the same person she
was before she became a judge; inasmuch as listening to people,
treating people with respect and dignity, and honor. I think
once a person ascends to the bench, I guess that is the word I
would like to use, it does not mean that they become different.
It means that they are the keeper of justice.
I will continue to care about people, to be fair to
litigants, to be fair to everybody in the community, and to
contribute the best that I possibly can, to show people that
judges are not any different than anybody else. We are just
fortunate enough to be in a position at a given time to make a
difference. I think that judges should continue to participate
in the community, continue to coach Little League, continue to
have friends, continue to be in fraternities, to continue to do
things in their respective churches. I do not think that you
should put yourself above anyone else, or put the practice of
law below anyone else. I think you should treat everybody with
dignity and respect.
Senator Durbin. One of the things in your background I
particularly admire is the service to your country in the U.S.
Army Judge Advocate General Corps. But I want to ask you a very
practical question. I understand your Reserve unit has been on
alert for potential active duty deployment. How would an
appointment to the bench impact your military commitment?
Mr. Rigsby. Sir, right after President Bush nominated me I
spoke to the Office of the Judge Advocate General and they were
very supportive of me leaving my current Reserve unit and
joining a military judges unit here in Washington, DC. I was
just promoted to lieutenant colonel, I think about 2 months ago
now.
Senator Durbin. Congratulations.
Mr. Rigsby. Thank you, sir. And they were willing to remove
me from the assignment as being a JAG officer, a judge advocate
general's officer in my military police brigade where I serve
as the staff judge advocate, and reassigning me to a unit here
in Washington which would not be deployed. I cannot comment on
where my Reserve unit may or may not go. I cannot even comment
on whether or not they exist today. What I can tell you is that
I will continue to defend my country but in a different role.
Senator Durbin. Thank you.
Mr. Dillard, you are the first in this post. You really
were kind of the founding father here when it comes to this
assignment. You have served for approximately 11 years as U.S.
Marshal for the District of Columbia Superior Court. What do
you regard as your most significant accomplishment?
Mr. Dillard. Senator, when I took this position it had been
held on kind of a temporary basis by an acting marshal who was
actually from the Marshal's office for the District of
Columbia, judicial District of Columbia. As such it had not
gotten the real attention that it deserved as a separate entity
in and of itself. In the time I have been there, with the help
of my staff, we have been able to get it recognized as just
that, as an independent Marshal's Service office. We were like
the stepchild, for want of a better term, if you will. That is
no longer true. We are now held right up among the top
Marshal's office in the U.S. Marshal's Service.
Senator Durbin. Could you tell me about the men and women
who work with you in your office, their level of
professionalism and your ability to attract people who can do
the job well?
Mr. Dillard. Senator, pound for pound--and I say this to
them and I say this to the world, I will put the people in my
office against law enforcement anywhere in the world. As a
member of the Secret Service for a quarter of a century, I was
blessed to travel and work all over the world. I will put my
people, pound for pound, against any people in the world.
You have to be a cut above to work where we work, because
we have the largest and busiest office in the Marshal's
Service. The reason being because we serve not only--I serve
not only as the U.S. Marshal, I serve as the de facto sheriff
of the District of Columbia, because as you know, they do not
have a sheriff's department. So we handle anywhere from 90,000
to 100,000 prisoners a year. And we do not have the cream of
the crop. We get what they send us. We get a lot of interesting
people.
We work 6 days a week, unlike any other Marshal's office.
Most of them work 5 days a week, about 9 to 5. I am not being
critical; that is their role. We work 6 days a week. The only
day we do not operate is on a Sunday. Holidays and all, we work
6 in the morning to 6 at night. To do the kind of job that we
demand of our people, and have the success that we have had,
they have to be a cut above.
Senator Durbin. Mr. Dillard, let me say on behalf of the
Senate and someone who has lived a good part of his life, at
least part-time, sometimes full-time in the District of
Columbia, that I certainly respect what you have done and
contributed through the U.S. Marshal's office.
This is a particularly historic week in that the law
enforcement officials from across the United States have come
to Washington yesterday for a memorial service to honor those
who have fallen in the line of duty during the past year. It is
a very touching ceremony each year, made even more so this year
because of the events of September 11. I hope that it is a
reminder to all of us never to forget that those of you who get
up every morning and put on a badge and put your life on the
line for us deserve our admiration, respect, and thanks. So I
thank you for what you have done, and I thank you for all your
colleagues who have joined in that effort.
At this point I have no further questions and I thank you
for your responses. They were very appropriate and encouraging.
I want to thank all the family members and friends and
colleagues for joining us today. The next step in the process
will be the prompt consideration of your nominations at full
Committee markup. I think that things will go well.
Let me note that the record of this hearing will remain
open for a period of 1 week to permit other Members of the
Committee to submit statements or additional questions to the
nominees. I also note that a statement in support of the
nomination of Mr. Rigsby has been submitted by Paul Strauss and
that will be included as part of the hearing record.
With that, this hearing is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 3:07 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
----------
PREPARED STATEMENT OF SENATOR CLELAND
I am writing to express my full support for the nomination of
Robert Rigsby to be Associate Judge in the District of Columbia
Superior Court. I believe that Mr. Rigsby would be an excellent
addition to this court, which serves as the gateway for many important
Federal cases.
Mr. Rigsby has had a distinguished legal career and has developed a
vast reservoir of experience and knowledge. He is currently serving as
Corporation Counsel for the District of Columbia responsible for
conducting all of the legal business for the District, supervising a
staff of over 200 lawyers, and administering an annual operating budget
of $48 million. Prior to this position, Mr. Rigsby was an Assistant
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in the
Narcotics Division. From 1987 to 1992, he honorably served our country
in the United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps as a prosecutor,
defense attorney, administrative law attorney, law of war attorney,
legal advisor to the Multinational Force and Observers, and Special
Assistant United States Attorney for Tennessee and Kentucky.
Not only has Mr. Rigsby served the legal profession with
distinction, he has also made a significant contribution to his
community. He served as one of nine commissioners to recommend
modifications to the District of Columbia's Sentencing Guidelines under
the President's National Capital Revitalization and Self-Improvement
Act. He was appointed by the Chief Judge of the United States District
Court to serve on the Committee on Grievances, and since 1991 he has
been an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, University
College, and the University of the District of Columbia School of Law.
I am confident that Robert Rigsby will be a vital asset to our
legal system as a Superior Court Associate Judge for the District of
Columbia. Thank you for your careful consideration of this nomination
in accordance with your established practices and procedures.
__________
PREPARED STATEMENT OF SENATOR BUNNING
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Today we have before us Mr. Todd Dillard, who has been nominated to
be a U.S. Marshal for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia,
and Mr. Robert Rigsby, who has been nominated to be Associate Judge of
the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Mr. Dillard has been serving as a U.S. Marshal for the Superior
Court since 1990, and before that he was in the Secret Service for
almost 25 years. I also noticed in his biographical information that he
was a high school science teacher and principal in the early 1960's.
Mr. Rigsby has led the D.C. Office of the Corporation Counsel since
February 2000, and has worked for the office since 1992. Mr. Rigsby is
also serving our country as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves.
I would like to point out that Mr. Rigsby served in the Army on
active duty from 1987 to 1992, and during that time he spent several
years at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, in several different positions,
including as an Army lawyer to the 101st Airborne Division and as a
felony prosecutor.
I am looking forward to hearing from our witnesses today, and
appreciate the time they have taken to be here.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
__________
PREPARED STATEMENT OF SENATOR PAUL STRAUSS, SHADOW U.S. SENATOR ELECTED
BY THE VOTERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Chairman Durbin and members of the Senate Committee on Governmental
Affairs, I am Paul Strauss, the U.S. Senator elected by the voters of
the District of Columbia, a position referred to as the Shadow Senator.
I am also an attorney practicing in the local courts of the District of
Columbia. In each of these capacities, I appreciate the opportunity to
provide this statement on behalf of my constituents in the District of
Columbia. I wish to express my wholehearted support for the President's
nomination of Robert R. Rigsby to be an Associate Judge of Superior
Court of the District of Columbia. His previous experience as Deputy
Corporation Counsel for the Enforcement Division as well as the
Criminal Division, in addition to his work in serving as Corporation
Counsel, has been of tremendous benefit to the District of Columbia and
the citizens he has represented. Mr. Rigsby has an accomplished record,
having served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern
District of Virginia in the Narcotics Division, in addition to serving
as active duty in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps
from 1987 to 1992. While in the army, his varied experience as a
prosecutor, administrative law attorney, international law attorney,
law of war attorney, legal advisor to the Multinational Force and
Observers, and Special Assistant United States Attorney for Tennessee
and Kentucky supports his extensive knowledge within the field of law.
He is an honorable man and a loyal servant to his country. His
continued service to his nation as an active member of our National
Guard demonstrates that those values are deeply embedded in this public
servant. Were I seated with the full rights and privileges of a U.S.
Senator, I would vote to confirm the nomination of Robert R. Rigsby
without hesitation. I look forward to his investiture onto the Superior
Court bench and am confident that he will uphold the honor of our
justice system. Today I ask that you vote yes for this nomination on
behalf of the District of Columbia residents who do not have anyone in
this body who can vote on their behalf.
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