[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 81 (Tuesday, June 2, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5941-S5942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY

 Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, shortly before the recess, 
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly completed her service as 
presiding judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. By law, 
after serving for a maximum of 7 years, judges of the FISA Court, who 
are designated from the U.S. districts courts by the Chief Justice of 
the United States to serve on the FISA Court in addition to their 
regular judicial responsibilities, are not eligible for redesignation.
  Now that Judge Kollar-Kotelly has completed her distinguished service 
on the FISA Court, it is fitting to take note of the admirable service 
she has rendered as the presiding judge of an institution that is 
central to our Nation's commitment to conduct foreign intelligence 
within the rule of law.
  Judge Kollar-Kotelly was appointed in 1984 to serve as an associate 
judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. In 1997, she 
was appointed by President Clinton to serve on the U.S. District Court 
for the District of Columbia. In 2002, Chief Justice William H. 
Rehnquist designated her to be presiding judge of the FISA Court. Her 
ability to earn the trust of two Presidents and a Chief Justice is 
noteworthy in itself.

[[Page S5942]]

  The period of Judge Kollar-Kotelly's service as presiding judge, from 
2002 to 2009, has been, of course, a period of enormous challenge for 
the FISA Court. The work of the court, apart from limited releases of 
statistical information and the rare case in which a redacted opinion 
has been released publicly, occurs in secrecy. But while little is 
publicly known about her service as presiding judge, from the vantage 
point of the Senate Intelligence Committee I can say with confidence 
that the American people should be very grateful for her leadership of 
this most important court.
  Congratulations, Judge Kollar-Kotelly, and thanks for a job well 
done.

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