[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17929-17930]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                TRIBUTE TO BENJAMIN HILL III OF FLORIDA

 Mr. GRAHAM. Today I offer a tribute to a great Floridian who 
has advanced the cause of quality judicial appointments to an 
independent Federal judiciary: Mr. Benjamin Hill III of Tampa.
  For four years, Mr. Hill has served as chairman of Florida's non-
partisan Federal Judicial Nominating Commission, which screens 
candidates for federal judgeships. Mr. Hill has done an outstanding job 
of leading the Commission and saluting the principle that those 
appointed to the federal judiciary should be among the best in the 
legal profession.
  This year the United States Senate has confirmed six new federal 
judges for Florida; five in the Middle District and one in the Southern 
District. The investiture ceremony for two of those new judges, the 
Honorable James Moody and the Honorable James David Whittemore, will be 
held September 18, 2000, in Tampa, Florida, followed by other 
investitures elsewhere in our state. The federal judiciary, the legal 
profession and the public welcome these new federal judges.
  As we applaud new jurists, we also recognize the tireless work of Mr. 
Hill in managing a judicial-selection process focused on meritorious 
appointments. A leader in his community, his church and his profession, 
Mr. Hill is a past president of the Florida Bar and a current member of 
the Board of Governors Executive Committee of the American Bar 
Association.
  The United States Constitution specifies that one of the functions of 
the United States Senate is to offer ``advice and consent'' on the 
executive branch's nominations, which includes the nomination of 
federal judges for our independent judiciary.
  Perhaps the most visible aspect of the advise-and-consent clause is 
the Senate's power to confirm nominations

[[Page 17930]]

or reject them, thus denying consent. There are myriad ways to offer 
advice to the executive branch; here's a brief description of our 
process in Florida.
  Florida's Federal Judicial Nominating Commission, a diverse non-
political panel comprised of attorneys and lay persons, receives and 
reviews applications from prospective federal judges. The Commission 
forwards top candidates to my attention. This screening process evolved 
so that Senator Connie Mack and I jointly interviewed leading 
applicants and made joint recommendations to the White House.
  During the period that Mr. Hill has served as chairman of this 
Commission, the United States Senate has confirmed the nominations of 
the following Floridians to serve as United States District Court 
judges:

                            Middle District

     The Honorable John Antoon II
     The Honorable Richard Lazzara
     The Honorable James Moody
     The Honorable Gregory Presnell
     The Honorable John Steele
     The Honorable James David Whittemore


                           Northern District

     The Honorable Stephan Mickle


                           Southern District

     The Honorable William P. Dimitrouleas
     The Honorable Alan Gold
     The Honorable Paul C. Huck
     The Honorable Adalberto Jordan
     The Honorable Donald Middlebrooks
     The Honorable Patricia A. Seitz

  By any measure, this is an impressive list. We express our 
appreciation to the Senate Judiciary Committee and its chairman, 
Senator Orrin Hatch, for prompt and thorough review of nominees from 
Florida.
  As we approach the end of the 106th Congress, we salute the citizen 
involvement of the dedicated men and women who serve on Florida's 
Federal Judicial Nominating Commission. Its members and its chairman, 
Mr. Benjamin Hill III, personify public service.

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