[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 194 (Monday, November 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5594-S5595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of Jeffrey M. Bryan

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Madam President, I rise in support of President 
Biden's nominee to be the next U.S. district court judge for the 
District of Minnesota, and that is Jeff Bryan.
  I want to thank my colleague Tina Smith. The two of us convened a 
judicial selection committee in our own State with very outstanding 
people who helped recommend some names to the White House. I would also 
like to thank Senators Durbin and Graham for helping to move Judge 
Bryan's nomination through the Judiciary Committee--on which the 
Presiding Officer serves--on a bipartisan basis and to thank Leader 
Schumer for making time for the Senate to consider his nomination.
  Judge Bryan is a dedicated public servant with a distinguished career 
spanning over 16 years serving the people of Minnesota, including as a 
State court judge and as a former Federal prosecutor.
  Through his devotion to justice and the rule of law, he has earned 
the respect and support of judges, attorneys, and law enforcement 
officials across the political spectrum. This is why he received a 
strong vote in the Judiciary Committee and why I hope my colleagues on 
both sides of the aisle will support his confirmation.
  Judge Bryan was born in an Army hospital in Fort Bragg. His mom was 
an English teacher, and his dad was a captain with the 82nd Airborne 
who instilled in Judge Bryan an appreciation for public service. His 
father's service in the Army brought their family to Fort Bliss, near 
El Paso, TX, where Judge Bryan grew up.
  After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Texas, Judge 
Bryan went back home to El Paso and worked as a substitute teacher. He 
then headed to Yale for law school. As a law student, he served as a 
student supervisor in the parents and children clinic and was president 
of the Yale Law Christian Fellowship.
  He also met the love of his life, a Minnesotan--we knew we would get 
to Minnesota at some point in the story. He met the love of his life, a 
Minnesotan, at law school. Ultimately, he traded the Texas heat for the 
Minnesota winters, and he and Liz settled down in St. Paul.
  If confirmed, Judge Bryan will be the first Latino Federal judge in 
Minnesota. He is active in the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association, 
tutoring students, and has served on the board of Twin Cities Habitat 
for Humanity. For 20 years, even before he had kids of his own, he 
taught Sunday school at his church.
  He clerked for Judge Paul Magnuson, who was a judge appointed by 
President Reagan, and spent several years in private practice. He spent 
6 years as an assistant U.S. attorney, where he prosecuted violent 
gangs and large-scale drug organizations. He prosecuted over 350 
criminals and directed what was, at the time, the largest meth 
investigation and cocaine investigation ever conducted in the District 
of Minnesota. He played a key role in dismantling a cocaine trafficking 
network that spanned from McAllen, TX, to St. Cloud, MN. He won the 
Department of Justice ``case of the year'' award for his work on that 
case. Additionally, he led a meth investigation that resulted in the 
recovery of more than 9,600 grams of meth, as well as convictions of 
more than 60 defendants.
  So I don't think it is a surprise that we have heard from former law 
enforcement officials at the local, State, and Federal levels who 
praised him, of course, for his work and devotion to justice but, also, 
particularly for his work ethic and his dedication as a prosecutor.
  He was hired as a prosecutor by Erica MacDonald, who was appointed by 
President Trump to serve as a U.S. attorney for Minnesota. She said 
that Judge Bryan was a ``no-nonsense Federal prosecutor'' and is an 
``outstanding'' nominee ``for judicial appointment.''
  Judge Bryan left the U.S. Attorney's Office in 2013 and was appointed 
to serve on the Ramsey County District Court in St. Paul. There, he 
presided over more than 8,000 cases, including violent felony criminal 
cases, and was only reversed in 4 cases.
  In 2019, he was appointed to serve as a judge on the Minnesota Court 
of Appeals. He has sat on over 500 cases as an appellate judge and has 
authored nearly 200 opinions and has only been reversed in 2 cases.
  Judge Bryan has, understandably, earned endorsements from some of the 
most esteemed jurists in our State, including four senior U.S. district 
court judges who were appointed by Presidents of both parties. Among 
them is the man he clerked for, Judge Paul Magnuson, who described 
Judge Bryan as a person of ``exceptional character'' and offered his 
highest recommendation.
  In addition, nearly 40 State judges, appointed by Governors of both 
parties, enthusiastically support this nomination. They praised Judge 
Bryan as a ``prepared, fair-minded, and hard-working judge'' and said 
that he has a ``determined focus on explaining and applying the law in 
an unbiased manner.''
  For those same reasons, the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal 
Judiciary rated Judge Bryan as ``well qualified'' to serve as a 
district court judge, the highest rating that the committee awards.
  I know that Jeff Bryan will make an outstanding Federal district 
court judge for the District of Minnesota. I urge my colleagues to 
support his confirmation.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.

[[Page S5595]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that we start 
the vote now.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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