[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 144 (Tuesday, August 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONFIRMATION OF CHARLES BARNES GOODWIN

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I would like to congratulate Judge Charles 
Goodwin of Oklahoma City on his confirmation today as a U.S. district 
judge for the Western District of Oklahoma. Judge Goodwin most recently 
served the Western District as a magistrate judge, and he has done so 
admirably and faithfully since his appointment in 2013.
  Judge Goodwin's service on the Federal bench, combined with his 
career as a civil litigator before various Federal district courts, 
U.S. circuit courts of appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court, and as a Federal 
law clerk provides him with the experience, knowledge, and perspective 
necessary to take on his new role of Federal district court judge.
  Furthermore, Judge Goodwin has been a leader on Federal civil 
procedure. He served as chair of the Western District's Local Civil 
Rules Committee, and, while in private practice, he taught seminars and 
authored articles on civil procedure for the Oklahoma Bar Association. 
Judge Goodwin is also active in his community, providing legal 
assistance to homeless veterans and volunteering in support of the 
improvement of public education in Oklahoma.
  During the process of looking for capable, well-qualified candidates 
for the Western District, my office heard from many people in the 
Oklahoma legal community who worked with Judge Goodwin for many years 
and know him best. I think these colleagues and legal contemporaries 
speak better to the type of man and judge he is, and I would like to 
share some of their thoughts with you.
  Kevin Donelson, current president of the Oklahoma Bar Association, 
wrote, ``I have personally appeared before Magistrate Judge Goodwin on 
a number of matters. He has been judicious and courteous in all of the 
matters that I have appeared before him. The United States of America 
and the Western District of Oklahoma would [be] lucky to have 
Magistrate Judge Goodwin be a United States District Judge.''
  Seventeen former past presidents of the Oklahoma Bar Association 
wrote, ``Each of us knows Charles in person or by reputation and 
believes that he is highly qualified for this position. As a lawyer and 
a judge, Charles has always exhibited a high degree of ethical conduct, 
professionalism, competence, hard work, and, as a judge, exceptional 
judicial temperament. We are confident he would make an outstanding 
District Judge . . .'' Mr. Harry Wood, a supervisor and then colleague 
of Judge Goodwin's at Crowe & Dunlevy, wrote, ``In all my dealings with 
him, I found him to be extremely capable, highly dependable, very hard-
working, and well organized.'' He went on to say, ``I found him given 
to decency, honesty, integrity, even temper and good humor . . . I 
cannot think of anyone that has a higher level of character, integrity, 
and judicial temperament.'' Mr. Daniel Webber, a former Assistant U.S. 
Attorney and U.S. Attorney for the Western District, stated that Judge 
Goodwin as a litigator ``had a strong reputation for being a diligent 
but ethical advocate. I have never heard his integrity or his 
temperament called into question.''
  Finally, I will leave you with some words from Chief Judge Joe Heaton 
of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. Judge 
Heaton wrote, ``I have reviewed various indicators of Judge Goodwin's 
productivity, such as the number of reports and recommendations 
generated by him and the complexity of the matters assigned to him. I 
believe his productivity to be fully comparable with that of the other 
magistrate judges of this court.'' Furthermore, Judge Heaton states, 
``Based on his service here and his experience as a partner and 
practicing lawyer with one of Oklahoma's largest law firms, I believe 
Judge Goodwin is plainly qualified to be a U.S. District Judge.''
  Based on Judge Goodwin's experience, expertise, and stature in the 
Oklahoma legal community, I have fully supported his nomination as a 
U.S. district judge for the Western District of Oklahoma and 
congratulate him on his well-deserved confirmation.

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