[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Nomination of Keli M. Neary
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm
Keli Marie Neary to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of
Pennsylvania. She is an accomplished litigator who has devoted her
entire legal career to public service in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
After receiving her undergraduate degree from the University of
Pittsburgh at Johnstown and her law degree from Widener University
Commonwealth Law School, Ms. Neary clerked on the 41st Judicial
District of Pennsylvania for Perry and Juniata Counties.
Following her clerkship, Ms. Neary served as an assistant counsel in
the Governor's Office of General Counsel, assigned to the Pennsylvania
State Police's Office of Chief Counsel. She specialized in enforcement
of the Gaming Act, personnel litigation, contract interpretation, and
firearms-related due process hearings.
Since 2012, Ms. Neary has worked at the Pennsylvania Office of
Attorney General (OAG), currently serving as the executive deputy
attorney general for the civil law division. At the OAG, she represents
and defends a broad array of different government agencies, officials,
and employees in matters before State and Federal courts and defends
constitutional challenges to Pennsylvania statutes and regulations.
Over the course of her career, Ms. Neary has tried 13 cases to
verdict. She has also participated in the briefing of hundreds of trial
and appellate matters in State and Federal courts and argued numerous
motions and injunctions.
Ms. Neary has the strong support of her home State Senators, Mr.
Casey and Mr. Fetterman. In addition, she was unanimously rated
``qualified'' by the American Bar Association.
I urge my colleagues to support Ms. Neary's nomination.