[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 146 (Tuesday, October 6, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S7157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CONFIRMATION OF DALE DROZD

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise in strong support of the 
confirmation of Dale Drozd to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern 
District of California.
  Judge Drozd earned his bachelor's degree magna cum laude from San 
Diego State University in 1977 and his law degree from UCLA in 1980, 
where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif.
  He began his legal career as a law clerk for a district judge in the 
same judicial district where he now serves.
  Following his clerkship, Judge Drozd worked as a criminal and civil 
litigator in Federal and State courts at the trial and appellate levels 
for 14 years.
  Then, in 1997, Judge Drozd was appointed to serve as a magistrate 
judge in the Eastern District of California.
  In 2011, he became the chief magistrate judge in that court.
  Over his 18-year career as a magistrate judge, he has presided over 
thousands of cases.
  He is well regarded in the legal community and among those who appear 
before him on a daily basis. The ABA has rated Judge Drozd ``well 
qualified,'' its highest rating.
  Five different U.S. attorneys who served under both Republican and 
Democratic administrations over more than 20 years have endorsed his 
nomination.
  Those former U.S. attorneys include David F. Levi, who later served 
on the district court and is now dean of Duke law school, as well as 
George O'Connell, Charles Stevens, Paul Seave, and McGregor Scott.
  Their letter states: ``[w]e have all known Judge Drozd for many years 
and are also aware of his judicial reputation in the community. He is 
an effective, productive, fair, and balanced jurist who is widely 
respected in this district.''
  Their letter further recognized Judge Drozd as ``an outstanding 
magistrate judge,'' and went on to state that ``he will be equally 
effective as a district judge.''
  The president of the Sacramento chapter of the Federal Bar 
Association wrote to the Judiciary Committee in support of this 
nomination.
  That letter notes that, although it is not typical for the Federal 
Bar Association ``to endorse a particular candidate or nomination,'' 
Judge Drozd's nomination is ``uniquely easy to support.''
  The letter further stated that Judge Drozd ``is widely respected in 
our district and commands a high level of respect from attorneys who 
appear before him.''
  I would also add a point from the U.S. attorneys' letter about the 
crushing caseload in this district.
  Their letter states: ``[o]ur district has an extremely heavy case 
load and has been operating with a vacant judgeship for two and a half 
years. It is vitally important to the fair administration of justice 
that the long-vacant judicial vacancy in our Fresno district be 
promptly filled.''
  This is a point that bears repeating: the caseload in the Eastern 
District of California is extraordinarily large, and has been for many 
years.
  This district covers Sacramento and California's Central Valley, 
including Fresno and Bakersfield--it covers 55 percent of California's 
land area.
  The district has only six judgeships for a population of nearly 8 
million people, and it has almost two times as many people per 
judgeship as the average U.S. district court.
  Over the last 6 years, the court has had nearly three times as many 
pending cases per judgeship--more than 1400--than the national average, 
569.
  These numbers translate into lengthy times for cases to be resolved. 
Over the last several years, it has taken between 38 and 51 months for 
civil cases to get to trial--well above the national average of 26 
months.
  Criminal cases now take over 20 months to be resolved currently, 
almost three times the national average of 7.4 months.
  The point is this: the Eastern District of California is in serious 
need of additional judges. I have worked for many years to create those 
positions, and I believe very strongly that they are needed.
  I am pleased that the Senate took the step of voting on this 
nomination.
  Thank you.

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