[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 187 (Monday, October 25, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7326-S7327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Nomination of Myrna Perez

  Madam President, let me close with reference to a vote that we face 
today.
  We have another qualified nominee, Myrna Perez, for the Second 
Circuit Court of Appeals. She is really competent and experienced. She 
has been handling complex civil litigation and will be ready to serve 
on the Second Circuit on day one.
  She has earned degrees from Yale University, Harvard University, and 
Columbia Law School. After graduating, she clerked for the U.S. 
District Court for the District of Pennsylvania and the Third Circuit 
Court of Appeals. She has dedicated her career to defending Americans' 
right to vote through her work at the Brennan Center for Justice, where 
she serves as the director of the Voting Rights and Election section. 
In this capacity, she has led their efforts to defend the Voting Rights 
Act and to protect, as John Lewis said, this ``precious, almost sacred 
right.''
  Far too few nominees to the Federal bench have significant experience 
in handling civil rights and voting rights matters. In Ms. Perez, the 
Senate has the opportunity to confirm a competent judge who will bring 
this experience to the bench. Importantly, she understands the 
difference between being an advocate and a judge. I have every 
confidence she will serve with diligence, fairness, and impartiality.
  And she will also bring demographic diversity to the Second Circuit. 
She will be the first Latina to serve on that court since former Judge 
Sonia Sotomayor--now Justice Sotomayor.
  Ms. Perez's nomination has received broad support--across the 
spectrum--from national civil rights groups, leaders in law 
enforcement, academics, faith leaders, as well as Senators from her own 
State, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand.
  One group of police chiefs and sheriffs and prosecutors sent a letter 
extolling her virtues. I ask unanimous consent to have it printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:


[[Page S7327]]


                                                     July 9, 2021.
     Re Law Enforcement Support for Nomination of Myrna Perez to 
         the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

     Hon. Charles Schumer,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Richard Durbin,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     Minority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Charles Grassley,
     Ranking Member, Committee on the Judiciary,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, 
     Chairman Durbin, and Ranking Member Grassley: As members of 
     law enforcement, across the political spectrum, we write to 
     express our support for the confirmation of Myrna Perez to 
     serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second 
     Circuit. The undersigned include current and former police 
     chiefs, sheriffs, and federal, state, and local chief 
     prosecutors from jurisdictions throughout the United States.
       Ms. Perez' distinguished legal career includes leading the 
     Brennan Center for Justice's Voting Rights and Election 
     Program, serving as the Civil Rights Fellow at Relman, Dane & 
     Colfax, and clerking for the Honorable Anita B. Brody of the 
     United States District Court for the Eastern District of 
     Pennsylvania and Honorable Julio M. Fuentes of the United 
     States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. For nearly two 
     decades, Ms. Perez' primary concern has been honoring the 
     Constitution to ensure that our nation's democracy is 
     inclusive, voting rights are protected, and elections are 
     administered fairly.
       As leaders in law enforcement, we are deeply concerned with 
     the rule of law and view public safety as intrinsically 
     linked with the public's confidence and trust in our nation's 
     democracy. Ms. Perez has spent her entire career as a civil 
     rights attorney and public servant, frequently working 
     alongside the law enforcement community in efforts to restore 
     federal and state voting rights for ex-offenders 
     disenfranchised by a felony conviction. We are confident that 
     Ms. Perez will bring diversity of thought and experience to 
     the federal bench and that her conviction for what is fair 
     and just will strengthen the integrity of our nation's 
     judiciary.
       We respectfully urge the Senate Committee on the Judiciary 
     to swiftly advance Ms. Perez's nomination and for the Senate 
     to confirm this exceptional nominee without delay.
           Sincerely,
       Jim Bueermann, Former President, National Police 
     Foundation, Former Police Chief, Redlands, California;
       Zachary W. Carter, Former Corporations Counsel, New York, 
     New York, Former U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of New York;
       Steve Conrad, Former Police Chief, Louisville, Kentucky;
       Barry Grissom, Former U.S. Attorney, Kansas;
       Ronald Hampton, Former Executive Director, National Black 
     Police Association;
       Peter Holmes, City Attorney, Seattle, Washington;
       John Hummel, District Attorney, Deschutes County, Oregon;
       James E. Johnson, Former Corporation Counsel, New York, New 
     York, Former Undersecretary for Enforcement, U.S. Department 
     of the Treasury;
       Joel Merry, Sheriff, Sagadahoc County, Maine, Former 
     President, Maine Sheriffs Association;
       Melba Pearson, Former President, National Black Prosecutors 
     Association, Former Assistant State Attorney, Miami-Dade 
     County, Florida;
       Richard Pocker, Former U.S. Attorney, Nevada;
       Donald Raley, Former Police Chief, Artesia, New Mexico;
       Kathleen O'Toole, Former Police Chief, Seattle, Washington, 
     Former Police Commissioner, Boston, Massachusetts, Former 
     Public Safety Secretary, Massachusetts.

  Mr. DURBIN. Several faith leaders also submitted letters, including 
Rev. Allison DeFoor, who wrote that Ms. Perez is ``an individual of the 
highest integrity. She is thoughtful and sound in her judgment and 
committed to principles of justice that transcend politics. She 
embodies the true meaning of public service and would be an exceptional 
federal judge.''
  Ms. Perez's nomination received bipartisan support in the Judiciary 
Committee.
  In short, she is a seasoned litigator, ready to take on an important 
job. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting her.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio.