[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 144 (Thursday, September 8, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S4503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Nomination of Andre Mathis

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm 
Andre Mathis to serve on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Mathis 
is an outstanding nominee with extensive litigation experience and deep 
ties to the Tennessee legal community.
  Over the years, he has litigated hundreds of civil cases and has 
defended approximately 150 criminal cases as a member of the Criminal 
Justice Act panel in the Western District of Tennessee. Mr. Mathis has 
tried 19 cases to verdict or final judgment and has briefed 23 appeals. 
And if confirmed, he would be the first Black man to sit on the Sixth 
Circuit from Tennessee. Mr. Mathis was rated unanimously ``well 
qualified'' by the American Bar Association, and he received a 
bipartisan vote in committee. Despite his extensive experience, some on 
the other side have questioned Mr. Mathis' credentials, as well as his 
confirmation process itself.
  Let's set the record straight. Mr. Mathis is highly qualified for 
this job. And any claim that there was no meaningful consultation 
between the White House and the Tennessee Senators on this vacancy is 
simply false. Over a period of 6 months, the White House asked the 
Tennessee Senators for proposed candidates, interviewed one such 
candidate, and made Mr. Mathis available to the Senators to conduct 
their own interviews. There is a clear record of good faith 
consultation regarding this vacancy, consultation that far exceeded 
that afforded by the Trump White House to several Democratic Senators.
  Remember, under the former President, Senate Republicans regularly 
supported circuit nominees who were nominated, even though the Trump 
White House did not seek any input from home-State Democratic Senators. 
I have said it many times: There cannot be one standard for Republicans 
and another for Democrats.
  With Mr. Mathis' nomination, this Senate has an historic opportunity 
to confirm a lifelong Tennessean and a person of outstanding 
credentials and integrity to serve the community that raised him. I 
look forward to supporting him and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Michigan.
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 11:30 
a.m. vote start now.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.