[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 103 (Tuesday, June 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Nomination of Hernan D. Vera

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm 
Judge Hernan Vera to the U.S. District Court for the Central District 
of California. With his years of experience defending equal justice 
under law, Judge Vera will make an excellent addition to the Federal 
bench. He received a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from the 
UCLA School of Law before clerking for Judge Consuelo B. Marshall on 
the Central District of California. Following his clerkship, Judge Vera 
entered private practice and focused on complex business disputes with 
an emphasis on commercial civil litigation and intellectual property 
issues. He then spent 12 years working for Public Counsel, the Nation's 
largest pro bono law firm, and eventually became the firm's CEO. During 
his time with Public Counsel, he exclusively represented low-income 
clients and litigated hundreds of matters involving consumer fraud, 
housing, employment, and other civil rights issues.
  In 2020, Judge Vera was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court. 
Since his appointment to the bench, he has presided over more than 200 
cases that have gone to verdict or judgment, including cases involving 
juvenile dependency issues and allegations of child abuse and neglect.
  Judge Vera has extensive litigation experience and a proven track 
record of independent decisionmaking on the bench. And having dedicated 
such a significant portion of his career to pro bono work, he will 
bring a unique perspective to the Central District of California.
  The American Bar Association unanimously rated Judge Vera ``well 
qualified'' for the Federal bench, and he has the strong support of his 
home State Senators: Mrs. Feinstein and Mr. Padilla.
  I urge my colleagues to support his nomination.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote 
scheduled at 5 p.m. begin immediately.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.