[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 150 (Thursday, October 4, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12756-S12757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Nomination of Judge Sharion Aycock

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to support the nomination of 
Judge Sharion Aycock and recommend her confirmation as U.S. district 
court judge for the Northern District of Mississippi.
  Judge Aycock is exceptionally well qualified by reason of her 
education, her experience, and her temperament to serve as a U.S. 
district court judge. As a lawyer, she was highly respected, and as a 
judge on our State court that has general, civil, and criminal 
jurisdiction, she has served with competence and distinction and with a 
keen sense of fairness. She will reflect great credit on the Federal 
judiciary, in my opinion. Judge Aycock has earned the respect and 
admiration of her fellow lawyers, as well as the judges who have worked 
with her. She has been selected to serve in many professional and 
community positions of trust and responsibility.
  The American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal 
Judiciary unanimously concluded that she is ``well qualified'' to serve 
as a Federal district court judge. This is the highest rating a 
judicial nominee can receive from the American Bar Association.
  She was born and raised in the northeast Mississippi town of Tremont 
in Itawamba County, where she graduated from high school with honors 
and was elected President of the student body.
  She also graduated with honors from Mississippi State University in 
1977, studying economics and political science. While a student there, 
she was selected for membership in Phi Kappa Phi, the Nation's oldest 
and largest honor society. She was inducted into the Mississippi State 
University Hall of Fame, the university's highest undergraduate honor. 
She also served as President of her social sorority.
  She received her law degree from the Mississippi College School of 
Law, where she served as co-editor in chief of the Law Review and as 
treasurer of the Student Body Association. She graduated second out of 
a class of 146 and was admitted to practice law by the Mississippi 
State Bar.
  After graduating from law school, Ms. Aycock returned to Itawamba 
County and started her own practice in 1984. During her 12 years of law 
practice, she represented the Itawamba County Board of Supervisors and 
the Board of Education, the town of Tremont, the city of Fulton, and 
the Northeast Mississippi Natural Gas District. She served as the 
Itawamba County prosecuting attorney from 1984 to 1992 and was honored 
as the State's most distinguished juvenile justice professional.
  Judge Aycock was elected circuit court judge for the First Circuit 
Court District of Mississippi in November 2002. She was unopposed when 
she sought reelection 4 years later, in November 2006.
  Except for statewide elected officials, trial judges have the largest 
geographic areas of responsibility in our State under their 
jurisdiction. The fact that she was unopposed when she was reelected in 
2006 means that many people respected and appreciated the tremendous 
job she had done as a trial judge. Her court's docket is one of the 
busiest in the State of Mississippi, and

[[Page S12757]]

it is also one of the largest districts, encompassing seven counties.
  During her tenure on the circuit court, Judge Aycock has had the 
opportunity to hear numerous criminal and civil cases, covering a broad 
range of subjects. She has expedited the work of the court, both on the 
civil and criminal dockets. She led the court in disposing of civil 
cases and the collection of fines and criminal cases.
  She has contributed substantially to the improvement of the 
administration of justice in our State and in the betterment of her 
community.
  She has been an active member of local and State bar associations. 
She served as First Judicial District secretary and president and was 
the first woman to serve as president of the Mississippi Bar 
Foundation, an organization dedicated to the improvement of the 
administration of justice in our State. She is also a fellow of the 
Mississippi Bar Foundation.
  She served as president of the Itawamba County Development Council, 
as a member of the Itawamba County Hospital Foundation, and as cochair 
of the Itawamba County March of Dimes.
  Senator Lott and I recommended the nomination of Judge Aycock in 
December of 2006. I am pleased that the President nominated Judge 
Aycock and that the Senate Judiciary Committee has recommended the 
approval of her nomination.
  I urge Senators to vote to confirm this well-deserved nomination.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, it is my pleasure to have this opportunity 
to speak on behalf of Judge Sharion Aycock in advance of her 
confirmation vote. Judge Aycock is the first female jurist from 
Mississippi to be nominated to a position on the Federal bench, and I 
am delighted that the President has chosen her to serve on the United 
States District Court for North Mississippi.
  Judge Aycock was born and raised in Tremont, MS. After graduating 
with honors from Tremont High School, she went on to attend Mississippi 
State University where she graduated with a degree in political 
science. Judge Aycock then earned her law degree from the Mississippi 
College School of Law, where she served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the 
Mississippi College Law Review and finished 2nd in her class.
  Following law school, Judge Aycock was employed by the A.T. Cleveland 
Law Office in Fulton, MS, and later opened her own practice. While in 
private practice, she represented the Itawamba County Board of 
Supervisors, Itawamba County Board of Education, Town of Tremont, City 
of Fulton, and the Northeast Mississippi Natural Gas District. She also 
served as the Itawamba County Prosecuting Attorney from 1984 to 1992.
  Judge Aycock has been extremely active in her local community serving 
as Past President of the Itawamba County Development Council, a Member 
of the Itawamba County Hospital Foundation, a Member of the Three 
Rivers Area Health Services, Inc., Co-Chairman of the Itawamba County 
March of Dimes, and Chairman of the Prairie Girl Scouts Capital Fund 
Drive for Itawamba County. She was chosen as the ``Itawamba County Good 
Citizen of 2000'' and selected as one of the Mississippi Business 
Journal's ``Top 40 Under 40.''
  In addition to being heavily involved in her local community, Judge 
Aycock has been an active member in the Mississippi Bar Association. 
She served as First Judicial District President and Secretary, and was 
honored as a Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation.
  During her professional career, she has also received several 
gubernatorial appointments, including appointments to the Board of the 
Mississippi Home Corporation; Board Member and Past Chairman of the 
Mississippi State Personnel Board; and a Member of the Governor's 
Commission on Youth and Children.
  Judge Aycock is currently Circuit Court Judge of the First Circuit 
Court District of Mississippi, a position she was elected to in 
November of 2002. During her tenure, Judge Aycock has had the 
opportunity to hear numerous criminal and civil cases covering a broad 
range of subject matter and complexity. She has presided over countless 
criminal cases, including capital murder, murder, manslaughter, and 
numerous drug offenses. Civil cases have included medical malpractice, 
contracts, fraud and misrepresentation, personal injury, and other 
suits for monetary damages.
  I believe that Judge Aycock will serve as a credit to both the 
Federal bench and to the State of Mississippi. I look forward to her 
confirmation.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas is recognized.