[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 17, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S4885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Clifton L. Corker

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, within a few minutes, the Senate will 
be voting on President Trump's nomination of Cliff Corker to be the 
U.S. Federal District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee. I am 
here to strongly urge my colleagues to support Cliff Corker.
  Cliff Corker has the respect of the people who know him best. He was 
selected to serve as a magistrate judge by the district court judges of 
the Eastern District of Tennessee--a very high testament to his 
qualifications.
  When Cliff Corker was appointed magistrate judge, this is what he 
said:

       It's a tougher job to be the decision maker rather than the 
     advocate. There's so much more responsibility in making the 
     decision than advocating for the client because you really 
     want to see justice done.

  Prior to his nomination to be magistrate in 2015, Judge Corker had 
his own law firm in Johnston City, TN. He handled a wide range of 
cases, from civil litigation to capital murder.
  He graduated from James Madison University and received his J.D. from 
the William & Mary Law School.
  The American Bar Association rated Judge Corker as unanimously ``well 
qualified,'' the highest ranking a nominee can receive. I am sure that 
is because of his judicial and litigation experience.
  Judge Corker has big shoes to fill. He is taking over for Judge 
Ronnie Greer, a very well respected Tennessean, a friend of mine for 
many years, who has served as a judge in Tennessee's Eastern District 
for the last 15 years. Prior to that, he was a State senator in 
Tennessee.
  Cliff Corker demonstrates the qualities that I look for in a judge: 
good character, good temperament, high intelligence, respect for the 
law, and respect for those who come before the court.
  Tennessee is fortunate that President Trump chose to nominate such a 
well-qualified candidate.
  I urge my colleagues to support Judge Corker's nomination.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up 
to 5 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.