[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4421-S4422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Nomination of John Z. Lee

  Mr. President, later today, we will add, I hope, one more name to 
this impressive roster. The Senate will vote on the nomination of Judge 
John Lee, who was selected for the Illinois seat on the Seventh 
Circuit.
  If confirmed, Judge Lee will be the first Asian-American judge ever 
to serve on the Seventh Circuit. His confirmation will mark yet another 
stride forward in building a judiciary that reflects the diversity of 
our Nation.
  Judge Lee was born to Korean parents in Germany. His father was a 
coal miner. His mother was a nurse. He arrived in America at the age of 
4 and settled with his family in a one-bedroom apartment in the Albany 
Park neighborhood of Chicago.
  It wasn't easy starting off in kindergarten in a new land, but Judge 
Lee says he found the support of a nurturing community of classmates 
and teachers. He quickly learned English and excelled in school, 
graduating magna cum laude from Harvard College and cum laude from 
Harvard Law School.
  He began his legal career as a trial attorney in the Environment and 
Natural Resources Division of the Justice Department before working in 
private practice in Chicago. His practice focused on complex 
litigation, including antitrust and intellectual property.
  In 2011, President Biden nominated Judge Lee to the District Court 
for the Northern District of Illinois. When he was confirmed in 2012 by 
voice vote, Judge Lee became the first Korean American to serve as an 
article III judge in Illinois.
  Since joining the bench, he has written hundreds of opinions and 
presided over 35 trials that went to verdict or judgment. He also sat 
by designation on the Seventh Circuit, a number of times, writing 
several opinions for the majority.
  During his time on the bench, he always applied the law to the facts 
before him in an evenhanded and fair fashion. Given his impeccable 
record and impressive credentials, it is no surprise that the American 
Bar Association has rated John Lee unanimously ``well qualified'' for 
this circuit court position.
  He has the strong support of myself and Senator Duckworth. I urge my 
colleagues to join us.
  I want to close by emphasizing this: Our work is not finished by a 
long shot. Judge Lee is one of ten circuit court nominees awaiting 
action by the full Senate, and many more are still moving through the 
Committee. Each one of these public servants will bring much needed 
professional and demographic diversity.
  The judges being confirmed by this Senate will ensure that the rule 
of law applies to every single one of us without fear or favor. They 
will work to uphold America's most sacred promise--equal justice for 
all.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.

[[Page S4422]]

  

  Mr. CORNYN. 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.