[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 27, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Jacqueline Becerra

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm 
Judge Jacqueline Becerra to the U.S. District Court for the Southern 
District of Florida.
  A Miami native, Judge Jacqueline Becerra's experience in both 
criminal and civil matters has prepared her to serve with distinction 
on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
  After receiving her B.A. from the University of Miami in 1991 and her 
J.D. from Yale Law School in 1994, Judge Becerra began her legal career 
through the U.S. Department of Justice's Honors Program, where she 
served as a trial attorney in the Civil Division, Federal Programs 
Branch.
  Following her work at DOJ, she became an assistant U.S. attorney in 
the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and served in 
the office's misdemeanor, grand jury, and general felony units. In 
1999, Judge Becerra joined the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern 
District of Florida. There, she served in the narcotics section and as 
special counsel to the U.S. Attorney.
  In 2004, Judge Becerra joined Greenberg Traurig, P.A., as a 
shareholder, where much of her work centered on commercial disputes, 
arbitrations, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations and 
compliance work. She also served as cochair of the firm's Global White-
Collar Defense and Investigations Practice and cochair of the Women's 
Initiative.
  In 2019, Judge Becerra was appointed by the district judges of the 
Southern District of Florida to serve as a U.S. magistrate judge. In 
this role, she has presided over four civil trials and issued more than 
1,100 orders and reports and recommendations.
  She was also unanimously rated ``well qualified'' by the ABA, and 
Senators Rubio and Scott both returned positive blue slips.
  With strong ties to the State of Florida, Judge Becerra's experience 
in public service, private practice, and as a magistrate judge have 
prepared her to join the Southern District of Florida as a district 
judge.
  I am proud to support her nomination and urge my colleagues to do the 
same.
  Mr. THUNE. I yield the floor.