[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 129 (Tuesday, August 2, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3839-S3840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  Nomination of Elizabeth Wilson Hanes

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will consider another 
highly qualified judicial nominee to the Federal bench. We will vote to 
confirm Judge Elizabeth Hanes to the Eastern District of Virginia.
  Judge Hanes currently serves as a U.S. magistrate judge in the 
Eastern District of Virginia, a position to which she was appointed by 
the current judges of the district court in 2020. She has already 
issued 100 opinions during her time on the bench.
  A lifelong Virginian, Judge Hanes has deep ties to the Eastern 
District. She was born in Roanoke, VA, and attended the University of 
Richmond and the University of Richmond School of Law. After 
graduating, she clerked for Judge Joseph R. Goodwin on the U.S. 
District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and for Judge 
Robert B. King on the Fourth Circuit.
  Judge Hanes began her career in public service as an assistant 
federal public defender in the Office of the Federal Public Defender 
for the Eastern District of Virginia, a role she held for 7 years. She 
then joined Consumer Litigation Associates in Richmond. Judge Hanes 
gained significant trial experience during this time. And throughout 
her time in legal practice, she represented indigent defendants in 
criminal matters and low-income clients--including veterans--in civil 
claims related to predatory lending practices.
  Judge Hanes received a ``qualified'' rating from the American Bar 
Association and has the strong support of Virginia's Senators, Mr. 
Warner and Mr.

[[Page S3840]]

Kaine. With her depth of experience and proven commitment to equal 
justice, Judge Hanes will continue to serve the Eastern District of 
Virginia with distinction. And importantly, as a former public 
defender, she will bring vital professional diversity to the Federal 
bench.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this outstanding 
nominee.

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