[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 50 (Thursday, March 27, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4496-S4497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




NOMINATION OF PHILIP P. SIMON, OF INDIANA, TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT 
               JUDGE FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA

  The legislative clerk read the nomination of Philip P. Simon, of 
Indiana, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District 
of Indiana.
  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, we will soon vote on the nomination of 
Philip Simon to be considered for a position on the United States 
District Court of Northern Indiana. It is because of that I rise once 
again to commend this remarkable jurist.
  Judge William Lee and Judge James Moody informed me of their 
decisions to assume senior status after distinguished careers of public 
service. Both of these individuals are remarkable leaders on the 
Federal bench, and I applaud their leadership to Indiana and to the 
legal profession.
  Immediately upon hearing of these decisions, I notified the White 
House and was asked by the President to help find the most qualified 
candidates to fill these two important positions in Hammond and Fort 
Wayne. I took this role very seriously and selected the candidates who 
would best serve the Northern District of Indiana.
  After sharing my selections with my friend and colleague Senator Evan 
Bayh, I submitted the names and applications of three outstanding 
candidates to the White House for their consideration. The President 
recently selected Assistant United States Attorney Philip Simon and 
United States Magistrate Theresa Springmann.
  Philip Simon has a remarkable record as an Assistant United States 
Attorney. As Chief of the Criminal Division, he is responsible for 
overseeing all criminal prosecutions in the Northern District of 
Indiana. He has supervised and participated in prosecutions involving 
large-scale drug distribution rings, illegal firearms trafficking, 
white collar fraud cases, environmental crime, and mob related 
racketeering cases. In addition, he is in charge of a public corruption 
task force in Lake County, Indiana.
  Philip has been the recipient of a number of awards and 
commendations. In 1995, the Mutual Insurance Companies of Indiana 
presented the Sherlock Award to Philip for his work to combat insurance 
fraud. In 1999, Philip was given the Director's award by Janet Reno, 
the highest award given to an Assistant United States Attorney by the 
Justice Department.
  Aside from his outstanding public service, he is a dedicated 
community leader with an interest in assisting children and families 
with autism.
  I believe that Philip Simon will demonstrate remarkable leadership to 
Northern Indiana and will appropriately uphold and defend our laws 
under the Constitution. I encourage my colleagues to support his 
nomination.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I am pleased to support Philip P. Simon, 
who has been nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Northern 
District of Indiana.
  Our nominee has had a distinguished legal career. Upon graduation 
from Indiana University Law School, Mr. Simon joined the law firm of 
Kirkland & Ellis as an associate, where he focused on general 
commercial and construction-related litigation, products liability, and 
employment discrimination and issues.
  He next began a long career with the United States Attorney's Office, 
serving first in the Northern District of Indiana, then in the District 
of Arizona, and finally returning to the Northern District of Indiana, 
where he currently serves as Chief of the Criminal Division. During his 
13 years with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Mr. Simon has handled a 
variety of issues ranging from routine drug cases to large scale drug 
distribution rings, public corruption cases, firearms violations, 
kidnapping, and white collar fraud.
  Mr. Simon is also a member of the Federal Bar Association, the 
Illinois State Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association.
  I am confident that Mr. Simon's extensive litigation experience will 
make him an excellent addition to the Federal bench.

[[Page S4497]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time having been yielded back, the 
question is, will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of 
Philip P. Simon, of Indiana, to be United States District Judge for the 
Northern District of Indiana?
  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I ask that the yeas and nays be vitiated.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Crapo). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The nomination was confirmed.
  Mr. LUGAR. I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that 
motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The President will be notified of the Senate's 
action.

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