[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 11, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1499-S1500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Ms. STABENOW. There are currently 89 judicial vacancies in Federal 
courts across the country, including four on the eastern court for the 
Eastern District of Michigan. Two of these are considered emergency 
vacancies because they have been vacant for over 19 months. With so 
many vacancies the case backlog isn't getting any smaller. It is a real 
problem.
  The good news is that today we have the opportunity to vote to move 
forward on four excellent nominees to fill vacancies in the courts.
  Our Michigan nominees are highly qualified and represent some of the 
best legal minds we have. Two of the nominees are sitting judges, one 
nominee is a U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan, and the 
other nominee is currently in private practice at one of Michigan's top 
law firms.
  Throughout the confirmation process, they have all proven to be 
thoughtful and prudent stewards of the law. So not only are they 
excellent nominees, but they are ready to go to work.
  The first nominee is Judith Levy. She has served as an assistant U.S. 
attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan since 2000. She was a cum 
laude graduate at the University of Michigan Law School. She has 
received numerous awards for her legal work.
  Ms. Levy clerked for the Honorable Bernard Friedman, the former chief 
judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of 
Michigan. He was, in fact, a Reagan appointee.
  She is nominated to fill a judicial emergency vacancy created more 
than 18 months ago.
  Ms. Levy is an excellent nominee. The people of Michigan deserve to 
have her on the bench, and she will serve with great distinction for 
all of us.
  Second, we have Judge Laurie Michelson. Judge Michelson has served as 
a U.S. magistrate judge in the Eastern District of Michigan since 2011.
  Prior to her appointment to the bench, she spent nearly 18 years in 
private practice where she specialized in media law, intellectual 
property, and white collar criminal defense.
  She earned her law degree from Northwestern University in 1992. She 
served as a law clerk for Judge Cornelia Kennedy on the U.S. court of 
appeals. Judge Kennedy, as you may recall, was selected by President 
Reagan for his short list of Supreme Court candidates to replace 
Justice Potter Stewart.
  Judge Michelson is an excellent nominee, and again the people of 
Michigan deserve to have her on the bench, and she will serve with 
distinction.
  Next we have Judge Linda Parker. Judge Linda Parker has served as a 
judge on the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan since 2009. Judge 
Parker has served in State and for the Federal Government for over a 
decade. Before that, she worked in private practice as well.
  She earned her law degree from George Washington University and began 
her career as a law clerk in the District of Columbia Superior Court.
  She has been recognized for her commitment to the community through 
pro bono legal work and as a board member of an organization that 
provides assistance to underserved academically gifted children.
  Judge Parker is also an excellent nominee, and the people of Michigan 
look forward to her service.
  Next is Matthew Leitman. Mr. Leitman is a principal at the Law Firm 
of Miller Canfield in Troy, MI, where he handles complex commercial 
litigation, criminal defense, and appellate matters before both State 
and Federal courts.
  Prior to joining Miller Canfield in 2004, he spent 10 years in 
private practice.
  He earned his law degree magna cum laude in 1993 from Harvard Law 
School and began his career as a clerk to Justice Charles Levin on the 
Michigan Supreme Court.
  Mr. Leitman's nomination will also fill a judicial emergency vacancy 
which has been open for nearly 2 years.
  Mr. Leitman is also an excellent nominee, and the people of Michigan, 
again, deserve his service on the bench. We look forward to his service 
and to the service of all four of those nominees that we will be voting 
on today.
  We have four excellent nominees for the U.S. District Court for the 
Eastern District of Michigan. They are thoughtful, they are prudent, 
and they are ready to get to work.
  I encourage and ask that all of my colleagues join together today in 
a strong bipartisan vote to be able to move these nominations forward 
and bring them to the floor tomorrow morning for the final vote.
  We are very pleased with the President's nominees and with their 
qualifications. We are very confident of their service to the courts 
and to the people of Michigan.
  I thank the Presiding Officer.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

[[Page S1500]]

  Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Hirono). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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