[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4310]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  CONFIRMATION OF JUDGE LOUIS GUIROLA

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am delighted that the Senate unanimously 
confirmed Judge Louis Guirola by a vote of 92-0 to be a United States 
District Court Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi. Judge 
Guirola has been serving our country and the State of Mississippi as 
U.S. magistrate judge for the Southern District of Mississippi. I have 
known Judge Guirola for well over 20 years and was pleased when the 
President nominated him to fill the U.S. District Court judgeship that 
is being vacated by Judge Walter J. Gex, who is taking senior status. I 
am pleased that the Senate was able to efficiently do its work of 
advising and consenting on this nomination in order to guarantee the 
smooth operation of our Federal justice system.
  Judge Guirola is a 1979 graduate of the University of Mississippi Law 
School, and he received his undergraduate degree from William Carey 
College in 1973. He has had a distinguished career in the law over the 
past quarter of a century and has gained broad experience from the 
various positions he has held. He has served as an assistant district 
attorney, an attorney in private practice, an attorney for the Jackson 
County Board of Supervisors, and an attorney for the Mississippi 
Highway Department.
  Judge Guirola began his Federal service as an assistant U.S. Attorney 
for the Eastern District of Texas in 1990, and he was named as a U.S. 
magistrate judge for the Western District of Texas in 1993. He served 
in this position until 1996, when he returned to Mississippi to become 
a U.S. magistrate judge for the Southern District of Mississippi, the 
position he currently holds. He clearly has an extensive knowledge of 
the Federal court system, and his experience will be a tremendous asset 
for the country. It is no surprise that the ABA's Standing Committee on 
the Federal Judiciary has unanimously found Judge Guirola to be ``well 
qualified'' to serve as a Federal district court judge.
  Judge Guirola has also demonstrated a commitment to education and 
instruction. He has been an adjunct professor at William Carey College 
and the University of Southern Mississippi. He also has given lectures 
and conducted seminars for the U.S. Attorney General's Advocacy 
Institute, the Federal Bar Association, the Mississippi Bar 
Association, the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Academy, the 
Texas Department of Public Safety, and the U.S. Probation Office. In 
addition, he has authored a number of legal articles and scholarly 
pieces.
  Judge Guirola is well-known and respected in his community, State and 
profession. His nomination has received widespread support in the State 
of Mississippi because of his reputation for fairness and hard work. I 
know that Judge Guirola will make an excellent district court judge, 
and I congratulate him on his confirmation by the Senate.

                          ____________________