[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 155 (Tuesday, December 16, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6906-S6908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NOMINATION OF STEPHEN R. BOUGH TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE FOR
THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the nomination.
The assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of Stephen R.
Bough, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Western
District of Missouri.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
Order of Procedure
Mr. REID. With this nomination, this will be the last vote of this
Congress.
I ask unanimous consent that the remaining cloture motions with
respect to judicial nominations be withdrawn and the Senate proceed to
vote on the nominations in the order upon which cloture was filed and
all time on the Bough nomination be yielded back.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
All time is yielded back.
The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination
of Stephen R. Bough, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge
for the Western District of Missouri.
Mrs. McCASKILL. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There is a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll
The assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Boxer),
the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Leahy), and the Senator from Vermont (Mr.
Sanders) are necessarily absent.
Mr. CORNYN. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the
Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander), the Senator from Missouri (Mr.
Blunt), the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Chambliss), the Senator from
Mississippi (Mr. Cochran), the Senator from Utah (Mr. Hatch), the
Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Johanns), the Senator from Illinois (Mr.
Kirk), and the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Sessions).
Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr.
Alexander) would have voted ``no''.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber
desiring to vote?
The result was announced--yeas 51, nays 38, as follows:
[Rollcall Vote No. 366 Ex.]
YEAS--51
Baldwin
Begich
Bennet
Blumenthal
Booker
Brown
Cantwell
Cardin
Carper
Casey
Coons
Donnelly
Durbin
Feinstein
Franken
Gillibrand
Hagan
Harkin
Heinrich
Hirono
Johnson (SD)
Kaine
King
Klobuchar
Landrieu
Levin
Manchin
Markey
McCaskill
Menendez
Merkley
Mikulski
Murphy
Murray
Nelson
Pryor
Reed
Reid
Rockefeller
Schatz
Schumer
Shaheen
Stabenow
Tester
Udall (CO)
Udall (NM)
Walsh
Warner
Warren
Whitehouse
Wyden
NAYS--38
Ayotte
Barrasso
Boozman
Burr
Coats
Coburn
Collins
Corker
Cornyn
Crapo
Cruz
Enzi
Fischer
Flake
Graham
Grassley
Heitkamp
Heller
Hoeven
Inhofe
Isakson
Johnson (WI)
Lee
McCain
McConnell
Moran
Murkowski
Paul
Portman
Risch
Roberts
Rubio
Scott
Shelby
Thune
Toomey
Vitter
Wicker
NOT VOTING--11
Alexander
Blunt
Boxer
Chambliss
Cochran
Hatch
Johanns
Kirk
Leahy
Sanders
Sessions
The nomination was confirmed.
______
NOMINATION OF JORGE LUIS ALONSO TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE FOR
THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
______
NOMINATION OF HAYWOOD STIRLING GILLIAM, JR., TO BE UNITED STATES
DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
______
NOMINATION OF AMIT PRIYAVADAN MEHTA TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
______
NOMINATION OF ALLISON DALE BURROUGHS TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
______
NOMINATION OF JOHN ROBERT BLAKEY TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE FOR
THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
______
NOMINATION OF AMOS L. MAZZANT, III, TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
______
NOMINATION OF ROBERT LEE PITMAN TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE FOR
THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
______
NOMINATION OF ROBERT WILLIAM SCHROEDER III TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT
JUDGE FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
______
[[Page S6907]]
NOMINATION OF JOAN MARIE AZRACK TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE FOR
THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
______
NOMINATION OF ELIZABETH K. DILLON TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
______
NOMINATION OF LORETTA COPELAND BIGGS TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will
proceed to the following nominations, which the clerk will report.
The bill clerk read the nominations of Jorge Luis Alonso, of
Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District
of Illinois; Haywood Stirling Gilliam, Jr., of California, to be United
States District Judge for the Northern District of California; Amit
Priyavadan Mehta, of the District of Columbia, to be United States
District Judge for the District of Columbia; Allison Dale Burroughs, of
Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of
Massachusetts; John Robert Blakey, of Illinois, to be United States
District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois; Amos L. Mazzant,
III, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern
District of Texas; Robert Lee Pitman, of Texas, to be United States
District Judge for the Western District of Texas; Robert William
Schroeder III, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the
Eastern District of Texas; Joan Marie Azrack, of New York, to be United
States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York; Elizabeth
K. Dillon, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the
Western District of Virginia; and Loretta Copeland Biggs, of North
Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of
North Carolina.
ALONSO NOMINATION
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I speak in support of Jorge Alonso, who
has been nominated to serve as a Federal district court judge in the
Northern District of Illinois. He will fill the vacancy that opened
when Judge Ronald Guzman took senior status last month.
Judge Alonso is an outstanding nominee for the Federal bench. He was
reported out of the Judiciary Committee last month on a unanimous voice
vote.
I want to thank Chairman Leahy for his efforts to move Judge Alonso's
nomination promptly through the Judiciary Committee, and I want to
thank the majority leader, Senator Reid, for scheduling this vote on
the floor.
Since 2003, Jorge Alonso has served as an associate judge for the
Cook County Judicial Circuit. He is currently in his third appointed
term as a State trial court judge. Judge Alonso has presided over
hundreds of cases that have gone to verdict or judgment, including at
least 88 jury trials.
He also presides over the Women's Justice Mental Health Call in Cook
County. Judge Alonso helped to create this program, which provides
intensive support and services to women in the justice system who have
suffered from trauma and addiction.
Prior to serving as a State court judge, Judge Alonso served for 12
years as an assistant public defender in Cook County. As a public
defender, he participated in approximately 30 jury trials and 150 bench
trials.
In addition to his substantial courtroom and judicial experience,
Judge Alonso has an admirable record of service to the Chicago
community. Among his activities, he serves on the boards of the Daniel
Murphy Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships and support to
low-income Chicago students, and the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in
Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood.
He also works as a judicial intervenor with the Lawyers' Assistance
Program, which assists members of the bar who are struggling with
mental health or addiction issues.
Judge Alonso came highly recommended to me by a bipartisan judicial
screening committee that I established in the Northern District. I was
pleased to recommend Judge Alonso's name to the White House for this
nomination.
I also thank my colleague, Senator Kirk, for submitting his blue slip
in support of the nomination.
In short, Judge Alonso has the experience, the integrity and the
judgment to be an excellent addition to the Federal bench in Chicago. I
urge my colleagues to support this outstanding nominee.
Vote on Alonso Nomination
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the question is,
Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Jorge Luis
Alonso, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the
Northern District of Illinois?
The nomination was confirmed.
Vote on Gilliam Nomination
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the question is,
Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Haywood
Stirling Gilliam, Jr., of California, to be United States District
Judge for the Northern District of California?
The nomination was confirmed.
Vote on Mehta Nomination
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the question is,
Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Amit Priyavadan
Mehta, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge
for the District of Columbia?
The nomination was confirmed.
Vote on Burroughs Nomination
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the question is,
Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Allison Dale
Burroughs, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the
District of Massachusetts?
The nomination was confirmed.
Blakey Nomination
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I speak in support of the nomination of
Jack Blakey to serve as a Federal district court judge in the Northern
District of Illinois. Mr. Blakey has been nominated to fill the seat
that was left vacant when Chief Judge James Holderman took senior
status last December.
In Illinois we have a bipartisan process for recommending Federal
district court judges to the White House. Under this process, Mr.
Blakey was recommended by my colleague, Senator Kirk, and I support his
nomination.
Mr. Blakey currently serves as the chief of the Special Prosecutions
Bureau in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. He has served in
this position since 2009. During that time, he has also served as a
special assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Illinois.
He helps supervise all joint State-Federal investigations and
prosecutions in Cook County.
Mr. Blakey previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago
from 2004 to 2009, as an AUSA in Miami from 2000 to 2004, and as an
assistant State's attorney in Cook County from 1996 to 2000.
Mr. Blakey has gained significant courtroom experience over the
course of his career. He has tried over 90 cases to final verdict,
including at least 27 jury trials.
Mr. Blakey is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Notre
Dame Law School.
Upon Mr. Blakey's confirmation, the Federal district courts in
Illinois will be operating at full strength, with no vacancies in the
State.
I urge my colleagues to support this nomination.
Vote on Blakey Nomination
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the question is,
Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of John Robert
Blakey, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the
Northern District of Illinois?
The nomination was confirmed.
Vote on Mazzant Nomination
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the question is,
Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Amos L.
Mazzant, III, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the
Eastern District of Texas?
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On page S6907, December 16, 2014, in the third column, the
following language appears: . . . advise and consent to the
nomination of Amos L. Mazzant III, of Texas, to be United States
District Judge . . . .
The online Record has been corrected to read: . . . advise and
consent to the nomination of Amos L. Mazzant, III, of Texas, to be
United States District Judge . . . .
========================= END NOTE =========================
The nomination was confirmed.
Vote on Pitman Nomination
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the question is,
Will
[[Page S6908]]
the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Robert Lee Pitman,
of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Western District
of Texas?
The nomination was confirmed.
Vote on Schroeder Nomination
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the question is,
Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Robert William
Schroeder III, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the
Eastern District of Texas?
The nomination was confirmed.
Vote on Azrack Nomination
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the question is,
Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Joan Marie
Azrack, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern
District of New York?
The nomination was confirmed.
Vote on Dillon Nomination
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the question is,
Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Elizabeth K.
Dillon, of Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Western
District of Virginia?
The nomination was confirmed.
Vote on Biggs Nomination
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the question is,
Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Loretta
Copeland Biggs, of North Carolina, to be United States District Judge
for the Middle District of North Carolina?
The nomination was confirmed.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motions to
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no
intervening action or debate; that any statements related to the
nominations be printed in the Record; and that the President be
immediately notified of the Senate's action.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________