[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONFIRMATION OF MIGUEL A. ESTRADA TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS 
                  FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 13, 2003

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the nomination of 
Miguel A. Estrada of Virginia to the United States Court of Appeals for 
the District of Columbia Circuit. This nomination has been pending 
before the Senate since May 9, 2001.
  Miguel Estrada has experience, intelligence, character and bipartisan 
support. Mr. Estrada has argued 15 cases before the United States 
Supreme Court and has served in the Justice Department under presidents 
of both political parties as a federal prosecutor and as the Assistant 
to the Solicitor General. Mr. Estrada was born in Honduras and attended 
Harvard Law School where he served as Editor of the Harvard Law Review. 
He maintains the highest rating of ``unanimously well qualified'' from 
the American Bar Association. This rating is based on professional as 
well as personal evaluations of a nominee, and some Democratic leaders 
have referred to this rating as ``the gold standard.'' As a result of 
Mr. Estrada's professional and personal accomplishments, he has 
received broad support among lawyers and judges associated with both 
political parties.
  President Bush has voiced his concern for the current judicial 
emergency in America with a large number of seats at the appellate and 
district levels remaining unfilled. President Bush, as the Chief 
Executive to the Judiciary, has a constitutional right to name a 
qualified person to the Judiciary. Mr. Estrada's confirmation will not 
only place a well-qualified and respected lawyer on the United States 
Court of Civil Appeals, it will uphold one of the finest traditions of 
our country. Mr. Estrada has endured over a twenty month nomination 
process without the courtesy of a floor vote. I strongly support Miguel 
Estrada becoming the first hispanic judge to sit on the United States 
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

                          ____________________