[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 18497-18498]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   NOMINATION OF LOUISE W. FLANAGAN, OF NORTH CAROLINA, TO BE UNITED 
    STATES DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will now 
consider the following nomination, which the clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read the nomination of Louise W. Flanagan, of 
North Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern 
District of North Carolina.


                    Nomination of Louise W. Flanagan

  Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, Louise Flanagan is the first woman to serve 
as a district court judge for North Carolina's Eastern District. 
Serving as a magistrate judge for the Eastern District since 1995, 
Louise Flanagan is consistently praised by her colleagues on the 
Eastern District Court for her integrity and her fairness in the 
courtroom. Whether in previous positions with the law firms of Ward and 
Smith in Greenville, NC, or Sonnenschein Nath and Rosenthal in 
Washington, DC, or at the Center for National Security Law, Ms. 
Flanagan's accomplishments are numerous on behalf of the public and the 
institutions she has served. I am certain she will bring judicial 
temperance, integrity, and character to the Federal bench.
  For these individuals and for so many other qualified men and women, 
being nominated to serve on the Federal bench by the President of the 
United States marks the pinnacle of a long and remarkable legal career. 
For those who are confirmed, it represents an opportunity to use their 
wisdom and legal training to uphold our Constitution and protect the 
rights and freedoms upon which our Nation was founded.
  As I campaigned for the Senate, I told the people of North Carolina 
that I believe each and every judicial nominee deserves a hearing and a 
vote by the full Senate. I believe in the capability, independence, and 
prudence of the Members of this institution. If a person has concerns 
about an issue or a nominee, then I believe he or she should make a 
persuasive case to the other members of this body in a forthright, 
open, and honest debate. This process is established in our 
Constitution, and it is what our representative democracy is all about.
  We are here today because the process is working for these two North 
Carolina nominees. I am confident that both of these highly qualified 
women will meet their duties with professionalism, impartiality, and 
competence, and I hope that other well-qualified candidates who have 
been sent forth, such as Judge Terrence Boyle, might soon join them.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the nomination 
of Judge Louise Wood Flanagan to be a U.S. District Court Judge for the 
Eastern District of North Carolina. Judge Flanagan currently serves as 
a Federal magistrate judge.
  After earning her law degree from the University of Virginia School 
of Law in 1988, she served as law clerk for Judge Malcolm Howard on the 
very

[[Page 18498]]

court to which she has been nominated. In 1990, she joined the North 
Carolina law firm of Ward and Smith, where she handled complex 
commercial litigation and litigated approximately 300 cases in state, 
federal, and bankruptcy court. Throughout her career, Judge Flanagan, 
has consistently demonstrated the strong legal intellect, integrity, 
and judicial temperament required of a U.S. District Court Judge.
  In 1995, Judge Flanagan was appointed to be a Magistrate Judge for 
the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. In 
this position she handles both criminal and civil matters and has 
earned a reputation of fairness, honesty, and keen intellect. She will 
make an excellent addition to the Federal bench.
  I commend President Bush for nominating her and urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting this nomination.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of Louise W. Flanagan, of North Carolina, to 
be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North 
Carolina?
  The nomination was confirmed.
  Mr. STEVENS. I move to reconsider the votes and to lay those motions 
on the table.
  The motions to lay on the table were agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the President will 
be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

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