[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      CONFIRMATION OF FRED I. PARKER TO THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, last night, at 11:55 p.m., a very 
important event for Vermont took place on the Senate floor. Fred I. 
Parker was confirmed by the Senate to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals, 
2d Circuit.
  Fred Parker is not only a distinguished Federal district judge, an 
exceptional attorney but he is also one of the nicest people I have 
ever had the pleasure to know.
  My friendship with Judge Parker stems from the first day I met him. 
Although I had not met Fred Parker before asking him to come and 
interview for the position as my deputy attorney general for the State 
of Vermont, I had heard exceptional things about him. When one is 
looking for your top assistant, it should be done carefully and after 
deep thought. However, after a brief meeting, I had no question that 
this was the man for the job and hired him on the spot.
  Unfortunately, too few men and women are willing to dedicate a 
substantial part of their life to public service. Fred Parker is one of 
those. After being with me and providing exceptional service including 
difficult victories in the U.S. Supreme Court and beating the State's 
top defense lawyer in a difficult murder case, he returned to private 
practice.
  After over 20 years in private practice, Fred was again called to 
public service. I recommended him to President Bush to serve as Federal 
district judge in February 1989. After 18 months of a contentious 
debate over the prerogative of Senators to have their recommendation 
respected by the administration, Fred Parker was confirmed as a Federal 
district judge in Vermont. The long and arduous process forced me to 
exercise the often criticized filibuster. In this case, it clearly 
resulted in the public good being served, notwithstanding a rather 
hostile White House and a few very angry Senators.
  What was quite remarkable about Judge Parker, was that after over 20 
years as one of Vermont's most successful private attorneys, an 
exhaustive investigative process determined that he had managed to 
remain one of the most respected and admired people in the legal 
profession. His friend, colleagues, and adversaries alike had the kind 
of praise for Fred Parker that is very seldom heard about anyone but to 
my mind was richly deserved.
  I want to share with Judge Parker's wife Barbie, their son's Hawkeye 
and Bruce and the hundreds of Vermonters who know Fred Parker, to say 
how very, very proud we are that one of our own will be serving in such 
a prestigious position. Judge Parker will serve the United States of 
America with distinction.

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