[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 188 (Tuesday, October 26, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7351-S7352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Judicial Nominations

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I have good news. This week, the U.S. 
Senate is going to consider five highly qualified Federal district 
court nominees. Before briefly speaking on their records, I want to 
make a few broad observations.
  First, each of these nominations was recommended by the White House, 
by their home State Senators, or, in the case of the D.C. District 
Court, by District of Columbia Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton. I 
want to commend my colleagues--they did their job. They continued to 
identify and recommend nominees who have the experience and the 
temperament needed to serve on the Federal bench.
  Second, these nominees represent an important cross-section of 
professional diversity. They have served as public defenders. They have 
also been prosecutors, civil rights attorneys, municipal lawyers, and 
even sitting judges.
  Third, all five of these nominees received bipartisan support in the 
Judiciary Committee. How about that, bipartisan support in the 
committee. That is a testament to their abilities, qualifications, and 
character. I thank my Republican colleagues who made that possible.
  Finally, these nominees understand the limited role a judge plays in 
our judicial system. They have to be guided by evenhandedness, 
impartiality, and fidelity to the rule of law. We have seen that in 
their records. These records have been scrupulously reviewed by staff 
on both sides--Democrat, Republican, in addition to the White House, 
obviously. We have seen it in their testimony before the Judiciary 
Committee, and we have seen it in the broad support they had from the 
legal communities where they live.
  Let me tell you a bit about each of them.
  First is Jia Cobb, nominated to the District Court for the District 
of Columbia. Ms. Cobb has more than 15 years of experience as a trial 
litigator. She has tried more than 30 cases to verdict in both civil 
and criminal cases. This depth of experience is one of the reasons she 
was rated unanimously--unanimously--``well qualified'' by the American 
Bar Association.
  For nearly a decade, she has represented people seeking to uphold 
their rights when it comes to the Nation's housing, disability, and 
employment discrimination laws.
  Critically, Ms. Cobb understands the distinction between being an 
advocate and a judge. As a judge on the District of D.C., she has 
promised to rule based on the law and facts of the cases before her.
  Next is Judge Karen Williams, nominated to the District of New 
Jersey. Like Ms. Cobb, Judge Williams was unanimously rated ``well 
qualified'' by the ABA. That is a testament to her integrity, 
temperament, and experience, which includes 12 years as a Federal 
magistrate judge and another two decades as a practicing litigator.
  She has the strong support of both Senators from New Jersey, Menendez 
and Booker, and many throughout the New Jersey legal community.
  We will also be voting this week on the nomination of Patricia Giles 
to the Eastern District of Virginia. Ms. Giles has a deep understanding 
of the district which she has been nominated to serve. As a Federal 
prosecutor, she tried more than 20 cases to verdict, and prosecutors 
and defense counsel alike have praised her fairness and her tenacity.
  Ms. Giles also received a unanimous ``well qualified'' rating from 
the American Bar Association and has the strong support of her 
Senators, Warner and Kaine.
  The Senate will consider Judge Michael Nachmanoff, nominated to the 
Eastern District of Virginia. He has served as a Federal magistrate 
judge since 2015, following an accomplished career as the district's 
appointed Federal defender.
  Judge Nachmanoff also received a unanimous ``well qualified'' rating 
from the ABA. He has the strong support of both Virginia Senators. Like 
Ms. Giles, Judge Nachmanoff received praise from prosecutors and 
defense attorneys alike. It is a testament to his integrity and 
evenhandedness.
  Finally, the Senate is going to consider Sarala Nagala, nominated to 
the District of Connecticut bench. Ms. Nagala is an accomplished 
Federal prosecutor. She has devoted her career to very serious cases 
involving human trafficking, child exploitation, identity theft, hate 
crimes, and fraud.
  Like each of the nominees, she received a unanimous rating of ``well 
qualified'' from the ABA and has strong support from Senators 
Blumenthal and Murphy.
  I ask all my colleagues to join me in supporting these five extremely 
high-qualified nominees. With their record, experience, and evenhanded 
approach, they will be ready on day one to serve in the critically 
important role of district court judge.
  Finally, let me say that for many of these people, this decision to 
move forward and ask for appointment to the Federal judiciary carries 
with it status and admiration from many people--most people--but it 
also may mean some personal sacrifices. They are now going to be 
officially in public life, and that brings with it, as we all know, 
some burdens. They are willing to accept that and their families are 
willing to accept it as they continue to serve as Federal judges.

[[Page S7352]]

  I hope my colleagues will join me in approving them. I hope it is 
done this week in a timely manner.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.