[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 150 (Thursday, October 4, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S12761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  Nomination of Roslynn Renee Mauskopf

  The fourth judge up for consideration also brings excellent 
credentials, Roslynn Renee Mauskopf: Magna cum laude from Brandeis in 
1979, and cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center. She has 
experience as an assistant district attorney in New York County. She 
was New York State Inspector General for 7 years and chair of the 
Governor's Moreland Act Commission on the New York City schools for 3 
years.
  Roslynn R. Mauskopf was nominated in the last Congress, but her 
nomination was not acted upon prior to its adjournment. She was 
renominated on January 9, 2007. A hearing was held on her nomination on 
April 11, 2007, and the Judiciary Committee reported her nomination 
favorably on July 19.
  Ms. Mauskopf is a highly qualified nominee with excellent credentials 
and a distinguished record of public service.
  In 1979, she received her B.A. degree from Brandeis University, 
graduating magna cum laude. In 1982, she graduated cum laude from 
Georgetown University Law Center.
  After law school, Ms. Mauskopf served as an Assistant District 
Attorney for New York County until 1995.
  Between 1995 and 2002, she served as New York State's Inspector 
General, leading the State office responsible for investigating 
corruption, fraud, criminal activity, conflicts of interest, and other 
misconduct in State executive branch agencies.
  Between 1999 and 2002, she also chaired the Governor's Moreland Act 
Commission on New York City Schools, which examined the operations and 
fiscal affairs of the New York City Board of Education and the New York 
City School Construction Authority.
  Since 2002, Ms. Mauskopf has served as United States Attorney for the 
Eastern District of New York.
  The daughter of Holocaust survivors, she has dedicated herself to 
promoting Holocaust remembrance. Her mother, at age 90, attended her 
daughter's nomination hearing before the Judiciary Committee.
  The American Bar Association has unanimously rated Ms. Mauskopf 
``Qualified.''
  How much time remains, Mr. President?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has 11 minutes 10 seconds.
  Mr. SPECTER. I yield the floor, and I reserve the remainder of my 
time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I wanted to come back to Judge Elrod and 
comment on some of the points Senator Cornyn raised in his statements 
on the floor.
  As I explained to Senator Specter, at no time do I raise at all the 
issue of age. I don't even know Judge Elrod's age, nor should that ever 
be a factor in our consideration on a confirmation, and it was not in 
my judgment; nor do I think there is a mathematical formula as to what 
is an appropriate amount of experience to be qualified to be an 
appellate court judge; nor do I think there is a specific path that one 
must follow in order to become an appellate court judge.
  But with Judge Elrod, just look at her background and record. You 
would think, for an appellate court judge, you would want a nominee to 
have appellate court experience. She does not have it. You would think, 
for a Federal appellate court judge, you would want someone who has 
experience in our Federal courts. She doesn't have that. You would 
think, for a Federal appellate court judge, you would want someone who 
has experience in criminal law. She doesn't have that. You would 
expect, for someone who is going to be a nominee confirmed for the 
appellate court, that we would be able to evaluate her ability to 
express herself through opinions. We don't have that. You would expect, 
for an appellate court judge, we would have her speeches or articles 
that would explain some of her philosophy on life. We don't have that. 
You would expect, for an appellate court judge, you would have some 
other way of being able to evaluate her approach to interpreting the 
Constitution of the United States. She will be confirmed to sit on the 
court that will do more interpretation of our Constitution than any 
other court; that is, the appellate court because so few cases get to 
the Supreme Court of the United States. And she doesn't have that 
either.
  So it was that point that I thought the Members of this body should 
be aware of, not that she didn't follow a particular course to become 
an appellate court judge or her age. It has to do with having something 
to evaluate for a person who is going to be on the appellate court with 
a lifetime position. And that is how I drew my conclusion.
  I appreciate the courtesy to be able to share that with our 
colleagues.
  Mr. President, I reserve the remainder of my time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who yields time?
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I don't know that anybody else is seeking 
recognition. Senator Leahy has already said he was not going to ask for 
the yeas and nays, and I do not intend to. Senator Cardin says he is 
not going to.
  So I yield back my time.
  Mr. CARDIN. I yield back my time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time is yielded back. The question is, 
Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Jennifer Walker 
Elrod, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Western 
District of Washington?
  The nomination was confirmed.

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