[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 170 (Sunday, December 19, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S10725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




NOMINATION OF CARLTON W. REEVES TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE FOR 
                  THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the nomination.
  The assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of Carlton W. 
Reeves, of Mississippi, to be United States District Judge for the 
Southern District of Mississippi.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to support the President's 
nomination of Mr. Carlton Reeves to be a U.S. District Court Judge for 
the Southern District of Mississippi.
  Mr. Reeves practices law in Jackson, MI. He received his 
undergraduate degree from Jackson State University and his law degree 
from the University of Virginia.
  He has served as a clerk and staff attorney for the Mississippi 
Supreme Court, and as the chief of the Civil Division in the U.S. 
Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.
  Mr. Reeves has been actively involved with Mississippi Legal Services 
and other public interest organizations in our State which will serve 
him well as he takes on this important new responsibility.
  Mr. President , I am pleased to recommend this nominee for 
confirmation by the Senate.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the Senate will finally vote on the 
nomination of Carlton W. Reeves to fill an emergency vacancy on the 
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Currently 
a partner in a Jackson, MI, law firm, Mr. Reeves is a former Federal 
prosecutor. Both of his Republican home State Senators, Senator Cochran 
and Senator Wicker, introduced Mr. Reeves at his confirmation hearing, 
and they emphasized his outstanding reputation in the Jackson legal 
community, as well as the bipartisan nature of the Mississippi 
delegation's support for this fine nominee. The Judiciary Committee 
reported his nomination on August 5 with the support of all but 1 of 
its 19 members. That was more than 4 months ago. Senate consideration 
and confirmation of his nomination has been delayed for months with for 
no good reason. When he is finally confirmed, Mr. Reeves will become 
only the second African-American Federal district judge in Mississippi. 
He will fulfill the pledge made by President Bush that went unfilled.
  After the confirmations today, there remain more than two dozen 
Federal circuit and district court nominations favorably reported by 
the Judiciary Committee, most of the unanimously, also ready for 
consideration and a final vote. The practice used to be for the Senate 
to confirm and confirm consensus nominees within days of their being 
favorably considered by the Judiciary Committee, certainly those 
reported without opposition. No longer. Courtrooms are being kept 
vacant for months and months while justice is, at best, delayed.
  During the first 2 years of the administration of President George W. 
Bush, a Democratic Senate majority proceeded to vote on 100 of his 
judicial nominations. That included controversial circuit court 
nominations reported during the lameduck session in 2002. In contrast, 
during this first Congress of President Obama's administration, the 
Senate has been allowed to consider just over 50 of the 80 nominations 
fully considered and reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee.
  I congratulate Mr. Reeves and his family on his confirmation today. 
This day was a long time coming.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
  There being no further debate, the question is on agreeing to the 
nomination.
  The nomination was confirmed.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Merkley). A motion to reconsider the vote 
to the nomination is considered made and laid upon the table. The 
President will be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

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