[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 174 (Tuesday, October 21, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S7184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  Nomination of Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm 
Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to the U.S. District Court for the Middle 
District of Florida.
  Judge Moe is another example of President Trump's focus on nominating 
jurists who rule in favor in big business and conservative special 
interests, instead of serving as a neutral arbiter on the bench.
  In a case involving a Florida law that makes it harder for plaintiffs 
to prove the amount of damages in a personal injury or wrongful death 
action, Judge Moe ruled in favor of defendants who sought to apply this 
law retroactively, despite the clear language of the law stating 
otherwise.
  Her explanation for why she ignored the clear language of the statute 
strains credulity.
  Republicans also claimed that Biden nominees who did not pass the 
Kennedy bar exam were not fit to serve on the Federal bench.
  When asked where the Privileges and Immunities Clause is in the 
Constitution, Judge Moe could not correctly answer the question, nor 
could she answer what the Privileges and Immunities Clause does. And 
when asked about the Privileges or Immunities Clause, she similarly 
could not recall which amendment it is in, nor could she explain what 
it does.
  As I have said many times before, there cannot be one standard for 
Democrats and one for Republicans. While the Kennedy bar exam is 
daunting for many nominees, if failing to answer questions for Biden 
nominees is disqualifying, the same should be said for Trump nominees.
  I will oppose Judge Moe's nomination. I urge my colleagues to do the 
same.