[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 205 (Wednesday, December 18, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S7130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Nomination of Daniel Mack Traynor

  Mr. President, later today the Senate will have the opportunity to 
vote on President Trump's second nomination to the U.S. District Court 
for North Dakota. My friend, Dan Traynor, has been nominated and we 
will be voting on his confirmation to be district judge for our 
district.
  I have known Dan for a long time. That is why I was honored to 
recommend him to the President and pleased when the President nominated 
him earlier this year.
  Dan received his bachelor's degree from the University of North 
Dakota and his jurist doctorate from the University of North Dakota 
School of Law. He clerked for the legendary chief justice of the North 
Dakota Supreme Court, Gerald VandeWalle, before heading to Devils Lake, 
ND, where he joined his family's law firm and where he works today.
  Since that time, he has spent a couple of decades in various 
capacities, practicing various types of law, including being the 
assistant city attorney for Devils Lake. His extensive criminal and 
civil experience both as a prosecutor and defender in State and Federal 
courts and also in Tribal court are the main qualifications I think he 
brings to this important position. Again, I am honored to support him.
  He has tried about 80-plus cases to a verdict or judgment or to a 
final decision, which I think is very good experience for somebody who 
is then going to stand in judgment. In addition, the ABA gave him a 
unanimous ``well qualified'' rating. He has also been recognized since 
2015 as a ``super lawyer.'' In 2017 he received Martindale-Hubbell's 
``AV Preeminent Rating.''
  So Dan's academic record, experience, and qualifications are more 
than adequate to be a good district judge. What makes him an exception 
is that Dan and his wife Trish, who is an Air Force veteran, are 
raising a beautiful family and are what we call pillars of their 
community and our State. As for Dan's family, his mom and dad, Jack and 
Jane, I know quite well, and they are what we would call legends in 
their community and in our State.
  The bottom line is that Dan is eminently qualified in every way, 
including possessing the character, demeanor, and temperament, as well 
as the intellectual capacity, to be an excellent judge. I look forward 
to voting for him, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Lankford). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.