[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 45 (Thursday, March 9, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 RECOGNIZING THE CONFIRMATION OF THE HONORABLE DANA M. DOUGLAS TO THE 
          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TROY A. CARTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2023

  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
Investiture of the Honorable Dana M. Douglas, who was confirmed to the 
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on December 13, 
2022 by the Senate, with bipartisan support, following her nomination 
by President Joseph R. Biden on June 15, 2022. Judge Douglas received 
her commission on December 16, 2022.
  Judge Douglas' confirmation to the Fifth Circuit is undoubtedly 
historic, but she additionally has the experience, temperament, and 
integrity to also be a historic judge on the Fifth Circuit. She will be 
the first Black woman to ever serve on this circuit.
  Judge Douglas is a graduate of Miami University (Ohio) and attended 
Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans. Upon graduation, she 
served as a law clerk in the United States District Court, Eastern 
District of Louisiana to the Honorable Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle. Prior 
to taking the bench, Judge Douglas practiced in the areas of energy, 
products liability, and intellectual property litigation in the state 
and federal courts of Louisiana and across a wide variety of industry 
sectors as shareholder (partner) in a regional law firm based here in 
New Orleans.
  Judge Douglas has been committed to her community for her entire 
career. She currently sits on the boards of the Thomas More American 
Inns of Court and Federal Bar Association. She also serves as the 
Louisiana Bar Foundation Community Partnership Chairperson for Greater 
New Orleans. Judge Douglas is a Past President of both the New Orleans 
Bar Association and the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Society. 
She also served as Chair of the 2017 Annual Justice For All Ball, a 
fundraiser that benefits The Pro Bono Project which provides pro bono 
civil legal aid services to the underserved in New Orleans. Judge 
Douglas served as a Vice-Chair and Commissioner of the New Orleans 
Civil Service Commission. The Commission is the quasi-judicial and 
policy-making body that exercises oversight of activities of the city's 
Civil Service Department. She is also a Charter and Founding Member of 
the Louisiana Chapter of the Women's Energy Network.
  Judge Douglas' service to the community has been formally recognized 
by many. In 2008, she was presented with the prestigious Louisiana 
State Bar Association (``LSBA'') President's Award. She was also twice 
selected as a ``Women of the Year'' honoree by New Orleans CityBusiness 
and a recipient of the 2018 National Bar Association Women Lawyers 
Division Outstanding Minority Partner in Majority Firm Award. Judge 
Douglas is also a past recipient of the LSBA Crystal Gavel Award, the 
Federal Bar Association Camille Gavel Award, and the Loyola University 
School of Law Gillis Long Public Service Award.
  I was proud to recommend her appointment to President Biden and 
applaud the Senate on her successful confirmation. Congratulations to 
Judge Douglas on this momentous achievement. This is a wonderful day 
for Louisiana and our entire Nation.

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