[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3223-S3224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           Parrish Nomination

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, the Senate will soon be voting to confirm 
Justice Jill Parrish's nomination from the Utah Supreme Court to the 
U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.

[[Page S3224]]

  Justice Parrish, who currently sits on the Utah Supreme Court, is 
extraordinarily well-prepared to fill this vacancy, and I hope and 
expect that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will support her 
nomination.
  Justice Parrish is a well-known and highly regarded leader in the 
Utah legal community, who has served with honor and distinction on the 
Supreme Court of Utah. Her sharp legal mind, breadth of experience, and 
impressive judicial temperament prepared her to serve on the Federal 
bench. I cannot think of a more qualified nominee to fill this vacancy 
at this time. I support Justice Parrish's nomination in the strongest 
possible terms, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
  As a former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I have long worked 
to secure confirmations for the most qualified judicial nominees. In 
fact, I have participated in the appointment of three-quarters of the 
judges who have ever served on the U.S. District Court for the District 
Utah. That experience has given me a sense, both personally and 
professionally, of the kind of individual who will serve well on the 
Federal bench. That experience gives me every reason to strongly 
recommend Justice Parrish for this appointment.
  Justice Parrish is a talented jurist with an impressive background. 
After graduating from Yale Law School, she distinguished herself in 
private practice before appointment to the Utah Supreme Court. During 
her 30-year service, she has established a record of excellence both 
before and behind the bench, in both State and Federal courts, in both 
the private and public sector, and in both trial and appellate courts.
  The American Bar Association gave Justice Parrish a ``well-
qualified'' rating--a distinction the organization only awards to 
experienced nominees with the most remarkable legal ability and the 
highest reputation for integrity. Federal nominees who receive the 
``well-qualified'' rating are also known for their breadth of 
experience, their success in the legal community, and their capacity 
for judicial temperament.
  Not only does Justice Parrish match the ABA's requirements, but in 
every respect, she exceeds them. The United States has the most 
respected judiciary in the world, and we expect our nominees to the 
Federal bench to have a record of accomplishment in their chosen area 
of legal expertise. Justice Parrish is remarkable in that she has not 
just one but multiple areas of expertise, bringing keen judgment to an 
appointment that requires a broad range of experiences.
  I have every confidence that Justice Parrish will serve admirably as 
a district judge, just as she has served honorably on the Utah Supreme 
Court. I might say, in supporting her confirmation, I wish to thank 
Senator Lee, who is not only my colleague on the Judiciary Committee 
but also my partner in representing our great State and in recommending 
the best candidate for judicial appointment. We agree that Justice 
Parrish is a well-qualified nominee, and we strongly recommend her 
swift and unanimous confirmation. I call on my colleagues--Republicans 
and Democrats alike--to support her nomination.
  I know this woman personally. I know her very, very well. All of the 
qualities I have been speaking about I have personally observed.
  I think everybody here knows how seriously I take appointments to the 
Federal bench. In this particular case, I feel very, very good about 
this nomination. I ask my colleagues to vote for her.
  Mr. LEE. Mr. President, we will have the opportunity in a few moments 
to vote on a friend and colleague, Jill Parrish, who serves currently 
on the Utah Supreme Court. She has been nominated by President Obama to 
serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, replacing 
Federal Judge Dee Benson, with whom I have clerked.
  I can think of no one better to replace Judge Benson than Justice 
Parrish. She is a friend, she is a respected jurist, and she is a 
dedicated citizen. She is a friend to all who know her.
  I am honored to have the opportunity to vote for her today, and I 
urge all of my colleagues to do the same.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of Jill N. Parrish, of Utah, to be United 
States District Judge for the District of Utah?
  Mr. LEE. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
  The result was announced--yeas 100, nays 0, as follows:

                      [Rollcall Vote No. 184 Ex.]

                               YEAS--100

     Alexander
     Ayotte
     Baldwin
     Barrasso
     Bennet
     Blumenthal
     Blunt
     Booker
     Boozman
     Boxer
     Brown
     Burr
     Cantwell
     Capito
     Cardin
     Carper
     Casey
     Cassidy
     Coats
     Cochran
     Collins
     Coons
     Corker
     Cornyn
     Cotton
     Crapo
     Cruz
     Daines
     Donnelly
     Durbin
     Enzi
     Ernst
     Feinstein
     Fischer
     Flake
     Franken
     Gardner
     Gillibrand
     Graham
     Grassley
     Hatch
     Heinrich
     Heitkamp
     Heller
     Hirono
     Hoeven
     Inhofe
     Isakson
     Johnson
     Kaine
     King
     Kirk
     Klobuchar
     Lankford
     Leahy
     Lee
     Manchin
     Markey
     McCain
     McCaskill
     McConnell
     Menendez
     Merkley
     Mikulski
     Moran
     Murkowski
     Murphy
     Murray
     Nelson
     Paul
     Perdue
     Peters
     Portman
     Reed
     Reid
     Risch
     Roberts
     Rounds
     Rubio
     Sanders
     Sasse
     Schatz
     Schumer
     Scott
     Sessions
     Shaheen
     Shelby
     Stabenow
     Sullivan
     Tester
     Thune
     Tillis
     Toomey
     Udall
     Vitter
     Warner
     Warren
     Whitehouse
     Wicker
     Wyden
  The nomination was confirmed.