[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5971-S5972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Mary Kay Lanthier

  Madam President, before I conclude, I just would like to make a 
remark about a word of support for the judicial nominee for the Vermont 
district Federal court whose nomination the Senate will be voting on 
shortly. And I am going to be--we are going to be hearing from my 
senior Senator colleague Senator Sanders, but I just briefly wanted to 
add my own acknowledgment of the extraordinary person that Mary Kay 
Lanthier is.
  She has got a lifetime commitment to public service. She comes from a

[[Page S5972]]

very small town in Fair Haven, VT. Her dad was a roofer--slate, worked 
in a slate quarry, did slate on roofs. Her mom has been a lifelong head 
of--she is the Postmaster in Fair Haven. And Mary Kay grew up in this 
small town and has smalltown values of service, modesty, humility, and 
she is incredibly accomplished as a person.
  I believe she will be an excellent judge serving the State of 
Vermont.
  With that, I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SANDERS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SANDERS. Madam President, I am proud and excited to say a few 
words to urge my colleagues to support Mary Kay Lanthier as the next 
district court judge for the District of Vermont.
  Ms. Lanthier is a native Vermonter who has spent her entire career in 
her home State, including working as a public defender in Rutland for 
15 years. She grew up in a hard-working Vermont family, where the 
parents emphasized the importance of serving her community.
  Ms. Lanthier learned that lesson well and has dedicated her career to 
being a public defender. In that role, she has fought for her clients 
to have a fair chance at justice in her courtroom. And if she is 
confirmed, I am confident that she will make sure that all of the 
people who appear in front of her are treated fairly and get the 
justice that they are due.
  Ms. Lanthier began her legal career as a judicial law clerk for the 
trial courts in Chittenden and Addison Counties, where she developed a 
deep love and dedication for the work taking place in Vermont 
courtrooms.
  Early in her career, Ms. Lanthier worked in private practice and 
public defense, working on family law, workers' compensation, and 
criminal cases. Since 2007, she has served as the supervising attorney 
at the Rutland County Public Defender's Office.
  In that role and throughout her career, she has developed a 
reputation as a respectful and skilled attorney. Judges have praised 
her preparation, and opposing lawyers have written letters in support 
of her nomination. As one of those letters says, ``Ms. Lanthier's 
compassion is a virtue that improved the administration of justice.''
  Last November, I was pleased to be joined by Senator Welch, with 
input from Congresswoman Balint, in forming a nonpartisan judicial 
nomination advisory panel to fill this vacancy on the Federal bench in 
Vermont. The panel was impressed by Mary Kay's career in public 
defense, her stellar reputation in the legal community, and her warmth 
and empathy.
  I was also impressed after interviewing her. One thing that struck me 
was not only her deep love of the law but her deep love of Rutland, VT, 
where this judgeship is based.
  For Mary Kay, I know that there is particular pride in doing this 
very important work in her hometown and for being a role model for the 
young people growing up there today about what is possible.
  Along with Senator Welch, I was pleased to recommend that President 
Biden nominate her for this position. She will be an excellent district 
court judge for Rutland and for the State of Vermont. I am confident 
that she will treat everyone in her courtroom with the compassion, 
respect, and dignity that they deserve. I urge my colleagues to support 
her confirmation.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota.