[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 172 (Wednesday, November 20, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6643-S6644]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Rebecca L. Pennell

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm 
Washington Court of Appeals Judge Rebecca Pennell to the U.S. District 
Court for the Eastern District of Washington.
  Judge Pennell's significant career as a litigator for nearly two 
decades and her experience as a Washington State appellate court judge 
will make her an excellent addition to the Federal bench.
  After graduating from the University of Washington and Stanford Law 
School, Judge Pennell served as a law clerk to Judge Robert H. Whaley 
on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, the 
court to which she has been nominated.
  Following her clerkship, Judge Pennell worked as a Skadden fellow 
assigned as a fellowship attorney at TeamChild in Yakima, WA. She then 
continued her career in public service as an attorney at the Federal 
Defenders of Washington and Idaho for 16 years. As a public defender, 
she tried approximately 13 trials, handled more than 100 cases in the 
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and helped to establish 
two reentry drug courts within the Eastern District.

[[Page S6644]]

  Since 2016, Judge Pennell has served as a judge on the Washington 
Court of Appeals, Division Three, where she has authored more than 568 
opinions.
  Judge Pennell has the strong support of her home State Senators, Mrs. 
Murray and Ms. Cantwell. In addition, Judge Pennell was rated 
unanimously ``well qualified'' by the American Bar Association.
  I urge my colleagues to support Judge Pennell's nomination.
  Mr. THUNE. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The Democratic whip.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask that we commence with the rollcall 
vote immediately under unanimous consent.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.