[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 84 (Monday, June 26, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6488-S6489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NOMINATION OF JEROME HOLMES

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that four letters 
written in support of the nomination of Jerome Holmes to the Tenth 
Circuit be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                       State Capitol Building,

                                 Oklahoma City, OK, June 19, 2006.
     Re recommendation of Jerome A. Holmes, U.S. Court of Appeals 
         for the Tenth Circuit.

     Hon. Arlen Specter,
     U.S. Senator,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Specter: As Governor of the State of Oklahoma, 
     and as a former Chair of the State Senate Judiciary 
     Committee, I have had a lot of experience in the selection of 
     judges. In our modified Missouri system of appointment of 
     judges, the Governor plays a key role when judicial vacancies 
     occur. Not only does the Governor appoint members to the 
     Judicial Nominating Commission, but he or she also is 
     forwarded the final three names of judicial applicants for 
     gubernatorial selection. I take this responsibility very 
     seriously, and I have personally intervewed every single 
     candidate forwarded to me.
       I have come to know and respect Mr. Jerome Holmes, a 
     nominee for the Tenth Circuit vacancy created by the 
     retirement of my friend, Judge Stephanie Seymour. Jerome is a 
     highly qualified candidate, a superb lawyer with a reputation 
     for fairness, ethics and integrity. Indeed, I recently 
     appointed his former supervisor, Judge Arlene Johnson, to our 
     court of last resort on criminal matters, the Oklahoma Court 
     of Criminal Appeals. When Arlene was Chief of the Criminal 
     Division of the U.S. Attorney's office in the Western 
     District of Oklahoma, Jerome was her chief deputy. Their 
     division was considered a model division of the U.S. 
     Attorney's office. Jerome handled this difficult task with 
     competence and honor, and he was part of the prosecution team 
     that brought charges against the perpetrators of the Oklahoma 
     City federal building bombing.
       I have also come to know Jerome on a personal basis through 
     the Oklahoma Symposium, a sort of ``think tank'' gathering of 
     top Oklahomans that meets formally once a year, and 
     informally in small groups from time to time. It is an honor 
     to be invited to join the Symposium, and Jerome was among the 
     first to be invited for membership.
       Jerome is uniquely qualified for this position. He served 
     as a law clerk for Federal District Judge Wayne Alley and 
     then for the then-Chief Judge of the Tenth Circuit Court of 
     Appeals, the honorable Judge William Holloway. Jerome then 
     practiced for several years in civil litigation before 
     devoting himself for eleven years to the U.S. Attorney's 
     Office in Oklahoma City. For several months, he has been 
     practicing at Crowe & Dunlevy, one of the largest and most 
     respected law firms in Oklahoma. In short, I do not think you 
     could have a candidate more highly qualified and regarded 
     than Jerome Holmes.
       I hope you will see fit to appoint this remarkably talented 
     young man to this important position. I know of the Tenth 
     Circuit, as well, because my cousin, Judge Robert Henry, will 
     become the Chief Judge of that Circuit in 2008. I know he 
     shares my high regard for Jerome, as he has told me of 
     Jerome's excellent professional appearances before that 
     court.
       I continue, Senator, to appreciate the very important work 
     that you do. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be 
     of service, or, of course, if you should come to Oklahoma.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Brad Henry,
     Governor.
                                  ____



                                      Ryan, Whaley & Coldiron,

                                 Oklahoma City, OK, June 21, 2006.
     Re nomination of Jerome A. Holmes to the Tenth Circuit.

     Hon. Arlen Specter,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Patrick J. Leahy,
     Ranking Member, Committee on the Judiciary,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Specter and Senator Leahy: I am writing in 
     support of the nomination of Jerome A. Holmes for the United 
     States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
       I am a lifelong Democrat. For six years I was fortunate to 
     work on the United States Senate staff of Senator David Boren 
     and the Senate Agriculture Committee. During this time I met 
     Senator Leahy and personally witnessed his leadership as a 
     committee chairman. I was the Democratic nominee for

[[Page S6489]]

     an Oklahoma congressional race in 1994. I later became a 
     federal prosecutor and eventually served as the United States 
     Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, first through 
     appointment by Attorney General Janet Reno and then through 
     nomination by President Clinton.
       I have known Jerome Holmes for over ten years through our 
     work together in the United States Attorney's Office and now 
     in private practice. I believe his intellect, experience and 
     character make him an excellent choice for a position on the 
     appellate court. I saw these qualities firsthand as Jerome 
     carried out his many responsibilities as a prosecutor. One of 
     the most important duties he performed was that of the 
     office's legal ethics and professional responsibility 
     counselor. Jerome acted ably in this capacity during a time 
     of heightened scrutiny for federal prosecutors following the 
     passage of the Hyde Act and the McDade Amendment. Since both 
     of you are former prosecutors, I trust that you can 
     appreciate the degree of confidence in Jerome's abilities and 
     integrity that were required in order to be given such an 
     assignment by me and other United States Attorneys.
       Jerome's nomination has apparently triggered concern from 
     groups that have focused on his writings on affirmative 
     action. In this regard. I can offer three observations. 
     First, I have known Jerome to be open-minded and respectful 
     of different views. More importantly. I know Jerome to be 
     respectful of the role of the courts, as opposed to the role 
     of the advocates, and I believe this understanding to be 
     partly the result of his three years of service as a law 
     clerk for federal appellate and district judges. Finally. as 
     noted above. I know Jerome to be a person of unwavering 
     integrity. Therefore, when Jerome states under oath that he 
     will put his personal views aside and follow the law. I 
     believe he will do just that.
       I hope these observations are helpful as you consider 
     Jerome's nomination. which I hope you will act upon 
     favorably. I respectfully request that this letter be made 
     part of the committee record regarding his nomination. If I 
     can be further assistance or if you or your staff have any 
     questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
           Sincerely,
     Daniel G. Webber. Jr.
                                  ____



                                            Oklahoma City, OK,

                                                    June 21, 2006.
     Hon. Arlen Specter,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Patrick J. Leahy,
     Ranking Member, Committee on the Judiciary,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senators Specter and Leahy: I am writing in reference 
     to the nomination of the Honorable Mr. Jerome A. Holmes, 
     Esq.'s judicial appointment. I appreciate the concern that 
     has been expressed about his nomination based upon his 
     writings and positions on affirmative action. In all honesty 
     I stand in a position that is contrary to the interpreted and 
     most likely actual personal stance of Mr. Holmes, yet my 
     relationship with him moved me to write and to express my 
     support for him.
       I have known Mr. Holmes for many years and believe that he 
     does have a high regard for the views of those who maybe 
     different from his own. That in and of itself is enough for 
     me to believe that he would ``hear'' fairly. In addition, Mr. 
     Holmes has displayed a level of integrity in all his dealings 
     that I have been aware and has shown in our personal 
     conversation willingness to listen and respect differing 
     views. I trust Mr. Holmes and so in light of our differences 
     I support his nomination.
       I do realize the responsibility that is upon me as a 
     Pastor, Community Leader and a concerned citizen. This is no 
     light matter for me, indeed it is with much prayer and 
     struggle that I searched out the right words to convey the 
     right tone to reinforce my message. As a member of the NAACP, 
     Urban League and many other organizations that fight for the 
     rights of minorities, I am moved to ask your continued 
     approval of this nomination.
           Sincerely,
                                             George E. Young. Sr.,
     Pastor, Holy Temple Baptist Church.
                                  ____



                                 Oklahoma County District One,

                                                Oklahoma City, OK.
     Re nomination of Jerome Holmes, 10th Circuit Court of 
         Appeals.

     Hon. Arlen Specter, Chairman,
     Hon. Patrick Leahy, Ranking Member,
     U.S. Senate, Judiciary Committee,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Distinguished Senators: It is truly an honor to offer 
     this Letter of Recommendation for your consideration on 
     behalf of Jerome Holmes, a nominee for the 10th Circuit Court 
     of Appeals.
       I have known Jerome Holmes for several years, both 
     professionally and personally, as I am also a member of the 
     Oklahoma Bar Association. I know him to be a person of 
     Integrity and Character and I have always appreciated Mr. 
     Holmes' fairness in our dealings. What's more, I have 
     witnessed Mr. Holmes' efforts in our local community to 
     improve the lives of those around us; all people regardless 
     of where they live, what they look like or how much money 
     they have. He has an altruistic spirit that makes him a 
     standout in this world.
       I serve Oklahoma County as one of three elected County 
     Commissioners, am a proud Democrat and consider Jerome Holmes 
     to be a principled leader who demonstrates mutual respect for 
     all people. In particular, he is respectful of views that 
     differ from his own and he enjoys tremendous bipartisan 
     support and respect.
       If I can provide any further information or perspective, 
     please do not hesitate to contact me at your convenience.
           Respectfully yours,
                                                         Jim Roth,
     County Commissioner.

                          ____________________