[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 184 (Tuesday, November 7, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of Kenly Kiya Kato

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm 
Judge Kenly Kato to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of 
California.
  Born in Los Angeles, CA, Judge Kato received her B.A. from the 
University of California, Los Angeles and her J.D. from Harvard Law 
School. She then clerked for Judge Robert M. Takasugi on the U.S. 
District Court for the Central District of California. Judge Kato began 
her legal career at the Federal Public Defender's Office for the 
Central District of California, where she served for 6 years. She then 
entered private practice and spent 10 years as a solo practitioner, 
representing clients in both civil and criminal cases. During this 
time, she tried approximately 15 cases to verdict. In 2014, she was 
appointed to serve as a magistrate judge on the U.S. District Court for 
the Central District of California. Judge Kato currently handles both a 
civil and criminal docket, and she has presided over several cases that 
have gone to verdict. In addition, she is heavily involved with 
diversionary programs within the Central District of California that 
focus on treatment, rehabilitation, and reentry issues for justice-
involved individuals.
  The American Bar Association unanimously rated Judge Kato ``well 
qualified'' to serve on the district court. The late Senator Feinstein 
strongly supported her nomination, and Senator Padilla does as well. 
Judge Kato has the experience, temperament, and qualifications to serve 
on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. I 
will be supporting this outstanding nominee, and I urge my colleagues 
to do the same.