[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 142 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6012-S6013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Kevin Gafford Ritz

  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, it is really so unfortunate and really 
quite sad that I have to come to the floor today and speak because, 
today, the Senate Democrat leadership is moving forward with a vote 
that undermines the longstanding bipartisan traditions that this 
institution relies upon to serve the American people and, indeed, for 
each of us to be able to serve the citizens of our State.
  In just a few moments, the Democrat leadership is going to move 
forward with a cloture vote on a judicial nominee, Kevin Ritz, whose 
home State Senators, which are Senator Hagerty and me, were not 
properly consulted by the White House during his nomination process.
  The consultation process between home State Senators and the White 
House on judicial nominees is essential to ensuring that a nominee is 
well suited to serve on the Federal bench. It is a part of our duty to 
provide advice and consent.
  Of course, Senator Hagerty and I attempted to work in good faith with 
the Biden-Harris administration to identify highly qualified nominees 
to fill the vacancy--the Tennessee vacancy--on the Sixth Circuit. We 
presented well-qualified nominees.
  Yet, contrary to bipartisan precedent, the White House barely even 
worked with us. Apparently, what became quite evident was this White 
House--the Biden-Harris administration--preferred backroom deals to 
open deliberation.
  This administration prefers a backroom deal to hearing the voice of 
the people from a State. This administration prefers backroom deals as 
opposed to considering nominees who have chosen to step forward and go 
through a nomination process with full transparency.
  To be sure, this vote is all the more shameful because Mr. Ritz is 
deeply unsuited to serve on the Federal bench. That is not just 
something that I say; these are comments that have come to us from 
dozens--dozens--of Tennesseans.
  In our country, every individual accused of a crime is entitled to 
due process of law. That is a bedrock principle of our justice system. 
Yet, as a Federal prosecutor and U.S. attorney for the Western District 
of Tennessee, Mr. Ritz has repeatedly flouted basic professional 
ethics.
  Mr. Ritz, for example, has been accused of using highly unethical 
bait-and-switch tactics to trick indigent criminal defendants into 
accepting plea deals that they didn't agree to. And when defense 
attorneys pushed back on him, Mr. Ritz has been accused of making 
outright false statements to the court to cover up his misdeeds.
  Indeed, Mr. Ritz has chosen to surround himself with those who 
seemingly treat their ethical obligations with disdain. Mr. Ritz's 
deputy, for example, received a 1-year probation for prosecutorial 
misconduct.
  To be clear, Mr. Ritz's record of unethical conduct is not my only 
objection to his nomination. There are Tennesseans who, for these same 
reasons, have come to us to object to his nomination.
  Now, under his watch, as the chief Federal law enforcement officer, 
the city of Memphis has tragically become one of the most dangerous 
places to live in the United States.
  In 2023, Memphis had the most homicides in its history and continues 
to lead the Nation in homicide rates this year. Now, there is a reason 
for this, and I think it is a reason that this Chamber needs to hear.
  And it is not a reason that is supposition. It is a reason that is 
grounded in statistics and fact. And it is a reason that citizens in 
Tennessee, in Shelby County, in the Western District have raised to us, 
because they are concerned about crime; they are concerned about what 
is happening in their communities; they are concerned about juvenile 
crime and the rates that are there.
  Now, here is their reason, and this is instructive to the Chamber as 
we consider this vote. As I said, Memphis has become one of the most 
dangerous places to live in the United States of America. In 2023, 
Memphis had the most homicides in its history and continues to lead the 
Nation in homicide rates this year.
  And here comes your reason: Under Mr. Ritz's predecessor, the U.S. 
attorney's office in Memphis had a policy of charging 100 percent of 
prosecutable gun crimes. They charged them all. Yet, under his watch, 
Mr. Ritz has failed to uphold that prosecutorial standard which helped 
keep Memphians safe and helped keep dangerous people locked up behind 
bars.
  And here is an example for you: Mr. Ritz's office failed to charge an 
individual with unlawful possession of a firearm, so this guy gets out 
and he goes on and he murders a Memphis police officer.
  So when we hear about violent crime and the people we represent and 
we love are saying ``do something about violent crime,'' they want 
these criminals locked up.
  But if you are not going to charge them with prosecutable gun crimes, 
they are not going to be locked up, and they are going to do like this 
criminal in Memphis and they are going to go out and they are going to 
murder.
  And the unfortunate thing is, in Memphis, they murdered a Memphis 
police officer. No one deserves a promotion--especially to one of the 
highest courts in the country--a lifetime appointment with a track 
record like Mr. Ritz.
  Just because the White House wants to ignore this fact doesn't mean 
that the Senate should ignore this fact. Listen to the voices of 
Tennesseans who

[[Page S6013]]

have reached out to us and who have said to us: He does not deserve 
this seat.
  I would urge all of my colleagues to oppose this reckless, 
unqualified nominee.
  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.
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mrs. CAPITO. I would ask that we proceed with the rollcall vote.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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