[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S6478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Nomination of Angel Kelley

  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the 
confirmation of Judge Angel Kelley to serve as a judge on the U.S. 
District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
  In a legal career that has already spanned almost 30 years, Judge 
Kelley has excelled in everything she has done, and she has done a lot. 
She has been a trial attorney, a legal instructor, and a State court 
judge in my home State of Massachusetts.
  She has devoted her entire professional career to serving the public. 
She began her practice of law representing children in delinquency and 
protective care cases in New York. She went on to serve as a senior 
trial attorney and assistant chief for litigation in the fast-paced and 
demanding Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. She served as an 
assistant U.S. attorney.
  She has taught litigation skills to students at Harvard University 
Law School and supervised them representing indigent clients appearing 
in probate and family court.
  As a judge sitting in the Massachusetts District and Superior Courts, 
she has presided over hundreds of trials. She has issued opinions in 
civil and criminal proceedings, addressing topics including employment 
discrimination, judicial immunity for testifying witnesses, grand jury 
integrity, the right against self-incrimination, and public records 
access. Her opinions suggest a thoughtful, balanced, and evenhanded 
approach.
  Judge Kelley has throughout her career demonstrated one thing above 
all else, and that is an abiding commitment to our Nation's promise of 
equal justice under the law. She has been a leader in the Massachusetts 
judiciary on fulfilling this promise, especially to litigants of color. 
She has been a friend and mentor to many members of the legal community 
and their affinity groups, with her nomination receiving strong support 
from the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, the Massachusetts 
Hispanic Lawyers Association, and the Asian American Lawyers 
Association of Massachusetts, among others.
  At a time when our Federal bench needs both diversity of experience 
and diversity of background more than ever, Judge Kelley meets the 
moment with qualifications that are, unfortunately, too rare for 
Federal judges. It is my sincere hope to see more nominees like Judge 
Kelley in the near future as we help reshape America's judiciary to 
better suit the people it serves.
  In light of her qualifications, experience, and service, including a 
unanimous ``well qualified'' rating from the American Bar Association, 
Judge Kelley received bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee to 
advance her nomination. I urge my colleagues to support her nomination 
here on the floor and vote yes to confirm her so that we can fill a 
long vacancy on the Massachusetts Federal court with a true, 
outstandingly qualified jurist who represents the best of our judicial 
system and our Nation.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado.