[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 178 (Tuesday, December 3, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of Catherine Henry

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm 
Catherine Henry to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of 
Pennsylvania.
  Ms. Henry received her B.A. from Drew University and her J.D. from 
the District of Columbia School of Law. After law school, she worked as 
a staff attorney at the Feminist Majority Foundation before serving as 
an assistant defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia. From 
1996 to 2001, she represented clients at every stage of the State 
criminal process as she handled cases in the major trial and felony 
waiver trial divisions. She also represented juvenile defendants in 
delinquency proceedings.
  Since 2001, Ms. Henry has worked in the Federal Community Defender 
Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. As an assistant 
Federal defender in the trial division, she gained extensive jury trial 
and sentencing litigation experience on a wide variety of cases. In 
2008, Henry was promoted to the position of senior litigator. She 
maintains a full caseload of Federal criminal matters and advises 
assistant Federal defenders in all aspects of litigation. Over the 
course of her career, Ms. Henry has tried hundreds of cases to verdict 
in State court and 35 Federal cases to verdict or final decision. In 
addition to her legal practice, Ms. Henry has taught as an adjunct 
professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School since 
2009, and she previously taught students at Temple University Beasley 
School of Law.
  The American Bar Association unanimously rated Ms. Henry as ``well 
qualified'' to serve on the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She is 
strongly supported by both of her home State Senators--Mr. Casey and 
Mr. Fetterman--as well as a broad range of individuals, including 
Federal public defenders, former Federal prosecutors, and former and 
retired district judges.
  Ms. Henry's litigation background and extensive experience in Federal 
court ensure that she will be a valuable addition to the Federal bench. 
I am proud to support her nomination, and I urge my colleagues to join 
me in my support.