[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 17, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8061-S8062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate 
immediately proceed to executive session to consider the following 
nominations on the Executive Calendar: No. 575 and all nominations 
placed on the Secretary's desk.
  I ask further unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed en 
bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President 
be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then 
return to legislative session.
  Mr. STEVENS. Reserving the right to object, I might add this confirms 
the nomination of Charles Clevert, Jr, of Wisconsin, and the 
nominations placed on the Secretary's desk are in the Public Health 
Service area.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nominations considered and confirmed en bloc are as follows:


                             the judiciary

       Charles N. Clevert, Jr., of Wisconsin, to be U.S. District 
     Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin vice Terence T. 
     Evans, elevated.


                      in the public health service

       Public Health Service nominations beginning Michael M. 
     Gottesman, and ending Willard E. Dause, which nominations 
     were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of May 1, 1996.
       Public Health Service nominations beginning John M. 
     Balintona, and ending Kimberly S. Stolz, which nominations 
     were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of June 10, 1996.


 Nomination of Charles N. Clevert, Jr., To Be U.S. District Judge for 
                   the Eastern District of Wisconsin

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise today to lend my strong support 
to the nomination of Charles N. Clevert to be United States District 
Court Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
  I am pleased that the full Senate has joined with me, Senator Kohl 
and my colleagues on Judiciary Committee in recognizing Charles 
Clevert's qualifications for the Federal bench. I attended Judge 
Clevert's confirmation hearing before the Judiciary Committee and the 
fact that he will be a worthy jurist was clearly evident at that time. 
His is a career of dedicated and unwavering service, not only to the 
legal community, but to the people of Wisconsin as well.
  Throughout his legal career, Charles Clevert has worked on behalf of 
the people of Wisconsin in a number of important ways. He has served as 
a prosecutor both in the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office as 
well as in the United States Attorney's Office. His career has taken 
him to courtrooms in both Federal and State courts throughout Wisconsin 
and he has practiced in both the criminal and civil arenas. For the 
past nineteen years he has been a United States Bankruptcy Judge. In 
1986, Judge Clevert became the Chief Bankruptcy Judge for Wisconsin's 
Eastern District. Clearly Mr. President, these experiences will serve 
him well on the Federal bench.
  However Mr. President, these accomplishments do not fully recognize 
the contribution of Charles Clevert to his profession and his 
community. In addition to being active in various Wisconsin Bar 
Associations and lecturing at the University of Wisconsin Law School, 
Judge Clevert has been active in working with young people in my state 
of Wisconsin for over 20 years.
  Judge Clevert takes the time to meet and talk with school children in 
and around Milwaukee about the importance of education and the role of 
the courts in our society. He stresses the need to emphasize education, 
not drugs and alcohol. His simple message of hard work and respect for 
the law is a positive and important one for the young people of 
Wisconsin. I was pleased to hear Judge Clevert indicate that it is his 
intention to continue his activities throughout Milwaukee and the State 
of Wisconsin following his confirmation to the federal bench.
  Mr. President, Charles Clevert's nomination was recommended to 
President Clinton by a nominating committee that my colleague, Senator 
Kohl and I have established to help ensure that the citizens of our 
State receive quality judicial representation. I am pleased that the 
full Senate has joined with that advisory committee, the President and 
the Judiciary Committee in recognizing Charles Clevert's qualifications 
and confirming his nomination to be a United States District Judge for 
the Eastern District of Wisconsin. I want to wish Judge Clevert, and 
his family, well in this new and important phase of his career. 
Although the responsibility that awaits him is great, it is a 
responsibility that Charles Clevert will no doubt handle with the 
competence and professionalism that has to date marked his 
distinguished career.
  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, Charles Clevert has accomplished a number of 
``firsts'' in his life. He was the first member of his family to go to 
college. He was the first African-American assistant U.S. Attorney in 
Wisconsin. When he was appointed in 1977, he was the youngest 
bankruptcy judge in the country.
  Today, as he is confirmed by the Senate, he becomes the first 
African-American Federal district court judge in Wisconsin history. In 
my opinion, it is critical that our Federal judiciary try to reflect 
the diversity that is America. But while we are gratified that Judge 
Clevert will add diversity to our Federal bench, he was nominated for 
one simple reason: he was the most qualified.
  Let me tell you why President Clinton could not have made a better 
choice to fill the vacancy created when Terry Evans--himself an 
outstanding judge--was elevated to the Seventh Circuit.
  First, Charles Clevert is a jurist of extraordinary intelligence and 
unquestioned skill. Practicing lawyers consistently rank him among the 
finest judges in Wisconsin. Attorneys who appear before Judge Clevert 
repeatedly praise him for his integrity, fairness and demeanor. He 
received similar high marks from members of the nonpartisan nominating 
commission--which Senator Feingold and I established with the State 
bar--who made Judge Clevert one of the finalists for the Eastern 
District vacancy. The ABA gave him a ``well-qualified'' rating, the 
highest grade possible for any nominee.
  And don't take my word for it, ask the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: it 
called Judge Clevert's selection a ``wise choice'' and a ``milestone.''
  Second, Judge Clevert is a person of extraordinary achievement and 
generosity. He grew up working class in Richmond, where he attended a 
segregated high school. He went to a small college in West Virginia, 
and then graduated from Georgetown Law School. He has spent more than 
20 years in Wisconsin as a prosecutor and a bankruptcy judge--he is now 
the Chief Bankruptcy Judge of the Eastern District. Judge Clevert's 
reputation is exceptional even among his colleagues: several years ago 
they honored him by appointing him President of the National Conference 
of Bankruptcy Judges.
  Let me also mention that Judge Clevert and his wife Leslie have two 
lovely children, Chip and Melanie, both of whom are in high school. 
What little free time Judge Clevert has away from his job and his 
family he spends working with his church and with charities. For 
example, he sits on the board of the Anvil Housing Corporation, which 
provides subsidized housing for senior and handicapped citizens. And he 
is involved with a group called Men of Tomorrow, an organization that 
mentors young men between the ages of 11 and 18.
  Mr. President, no one can read the story of Judge Clevert's life and 
not be impressed. It is eloquent testimony to our country's ability to 
create opportunity for all from a social compact some claim was written 
for a few.
  From any perspective--prosecutor or defense lawyer, corporate 
litigator or consumer advocate, debtor or creditor--Charles N. Clevert 
is already a

[[Page S8062]]

terrific bankruptcy court judge. He is someone who will faithfully 
apply Supreme Court precedent. He is a pragmatist, not an ideologue. 
And his career demonstrates a proven record of fairness and toughness.
  I congratulate the Senate on a wise decision today, and I am sure 
that Judge Clevert will be as distinguished on the district court as he 
has been on the bankruptcy bench.

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