[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 96 (Friday, July 21, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7416-S7417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     NOMINATION OF DENNIS CAVANAUGH

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise in strong support of the 
nomination of Dennis Cavanaugh to the United States District Court for 
New Jersey, and I am pleased that the Senate has confirmed him.
  Dennis Cavanaugh has compiled an impressive record in both the public 
and private sectors. He has consistently demonstrated the efficiency, 
fairness and compassion that we have come to expect from our federal 
jurists. And he will be a tremendous asset as a district judge.
  Since 1993, he has served as a magistrate judge. In that position, he 
has handled a number of difficult and complex cases. His current duties 
include managing all the civil cases assigned to two active district 
judges and half of the civil cases assigned to a senior district judge. 
That brings his total workload to more than 600 cases.
  In fulfilling these duties, Magistrate Cavanaugh has shown the strong 
work ethic that is essential for judges who are called on to handle 
literally hundreds of cases at a time.
  Magistrate Cavanaugh's legal career also includes several years of 
service as a public defender--from 1973 until 1977. After that, he 
entered private practice as a trial attorney handling civil litigation 
and some criminal cases. And he has been a partner with several 
distinguished firms in New Jersey.
  His clients have included small businesses, educational institutions, 
insurance companies, public entities and police benevolent 
associations. And his experience with such a broad range of interests 
is one of the reasons he has performed so effectively as a magistrate 
judge.
  Magistrate Cavanaugh has also done his part to help ease the 
caseloads overwhelming other judges. He volunteered for pro bono 
assignments at the

[[Page S7417]]

Superior Court in Essex County, where there was a severe backlog of 
civil cases.
  In addition to his judicial duties, Magistrate Cavanaugh also finds 
time to teach as an adjunct professor at his alma mater, Seton Hall 
University School of Law in Newark.
  That is the kind of experience and energy that has made New Jersey's 
federal bench one of the most impressive in the country. Magistrate 
Cavanaugh's entire career reflects the integrity and dedication that we 
want to see in all our federal judges. And I know his service on the 
district court bench will be equally outstanding.
  I am pleased that the Senate has confirmed Magistrate Cavanaugh's 
nomination. With his confirmation, there will be no vacancies on New 
Jersey's district court. I thank Chairman Hatch for moving this 
nomination so expeditiously, and I thank all of my colleagues for their 
support of Magistrate Cavanaugh.

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