[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 6, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S414-S415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Nomination of Amy M. Baggio

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Amy 
M. Baggio to the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.
  Judge Baggio received her B.A., cum laude, from Wake Forest 
University and her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School. After law 
school, she became a public defender in Portland, where she represented 
clients in State court.

[[Page S415]]

From 2002 to 2012, she served in the Office of the Federal Public 
Defender for the District of Oregon in Portland. She handled both 
trials and appeals in that role, representing her clients in Federal 
district court and before the Ninth Circuit. In 2012, Judge Baggio 
opened a solo practice in Portland, where she worked until 2019. During 
her time as a litigator, she tried 12 cases to verdict, including 8 
jury trials.
  In 2019, Judge Baggio was appointed to the Oregon State Circuit Court 
in Multnomah County by then-Governor Kate Brown. Judge Baggio was 
subsequently elected to the position in 2020. Over the past 5 years, 
she has handled civil, criminal, and family law matters, and she has 
presided over more than 40 trials.
  The American Bar Association unanimously rated Judge Baggio ``well 
qualified'' to serve on the District of Oregon. She has deep ties to 
Oregon and enjoys the strong support of both of her home State 
Senators, Mr. Wyden and Mr. Merkley. Her extensive litigation 
background and experience as a State court judge will serve her well on 
the Federal bench.
  When Senator Wyden introduced Judge Baggio at her confirmation 
hearing, he noted that she has never had a party before her file a 
request for a different judge, a testament to her fairness. I strongly 
support this nominee, and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting 
her nomination.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I am going to move now to my brief remarks 
with respect to our judge from Oregon. I come to the floor today to 
reiterate my strong support for Judge Amy Baggio's nomination to serve 
on the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.
  Judge Baggio has a proven track record as both a jurist and a 
litigator. She spent a decade as a public defender; and in her career 
on the bench, she has presided over hundreds of civil and criminal 
matters and handled 42 trials, half of which were jury trials.
  And I note, because Members have been asking with respect to her 
values in terms of prosecuting and dealing with cases and her attitude 
towards criminals, in one case the judge sentenced a man to many more 
years for first-degree sexual abuse than anyone had thought was even 
being discussed, certainly longer than was sought by defense counsel. 
So it is a testament to Judge Baggio's fairness and professionalism 
that during her career as a judge, she has never once had a party file 
a request for a different judge.
  In addition to being fair, she has consistently demonstrated an 
ability to make thoughtful decisions that protect communities and their 
values.
  I urge my colleagues--and I gather that we will be going to the vote 
now--to support a very dedicated public servant--and I emphasize that--
a public servant who has got a real track record as a public defender 
and in her career on the bench.
  I urge my colleagues to support Judge Amy Baggio.