[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2692-2693]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    NOMINATION OF JUDGE JACK ZOUHARY

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to speak in strong support of 
the nomination of Judge Jack Zouhary, whom the President has nominated 
to be U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Ohio. 
Judge Zouhary currently is serving on the Lucas County Common Pleas 
Court. His service there has been outstanding and is an excellent 
indication of the type of judge he will be on the Federal bench.
  I would like to share with my Senate colleagues just a few of the 
numerous admirable qualities that make Judge Zouhary such an 
outstanding nominee. Both as a professional and as a person, he is 
exactly the sort of individual we want to be serving on the Federal 
bench.
  Judge Zouhary grew up in Toledo. He is a first-generation American, 
whose parents immigrated from Lebanon to the United States and 
instilled in their son a respect for the values of education, religion, 
and community service. After graduating as the valedictorian of his 
high school, he attended Dartmouth College, where he received his 
undergraduate degree before returning to his hometown to earn his law 
degree from the University of Toledo College of Law. Judge Zouhary then 
embarked on what would become a long and accomplished legal career--a 
career with 30 years of legal experience that has given him the 
background and understanding of our legal system to successfully take 
on the role of a Federal judge.
  He began his legal career with the law firm of Robison, Curphey & 
O'Connell, where he worked as an Associate and then as a Partner. 
During his 23 years there, he had a varied practice, representing 
individuals and businesses on a range of legal issues, with an emphasis 
on civil trial practice and corporate matters. In 2000, Judge Zouhary 
became the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for S.E. Johnson 
Companies, Inc., a large highway contractor and asphalt producer.
  In 2004, Judge Zouhary accepted a position as ``Of Counsel'' with the 
law firm of Fuller & Henry. He remained with Fuller & Henry until 2005, 
when Ohio Governor Bob Taft appointed him to the Lucas County Common 
Pleas Court. In Ohio, the Common Pleas Court is the highest State trial 
bench and hears all major civil and criminal cases.
  During his time as an attorney in private practice, Judge Zouhary 
distinguished himself as an excellent litigator and was honored by 
being selected as a member of the prestigious American College of Trial 
Lawyers. Membership in the American College of Trial Lawyers is by 
invitation only and is limited to the best of the trial bar.

[[Page 2693]]

  Judge Zouhary has long been committed to the ideals of civility and 
professionalism in the legal field. Friends and colleagues often 
describe him as ``a gentleman.'' I agree with that assessment. He is 
well regarded for his honesty, his integrity, and his intelligence, and 
those who have known and worked with him through the years speak warmly 
of his even-temper and cordial demeanor.
  Not surprisingly, given his interest in preserving a less combative 
approach to the law, Judge Zouhary frequently has presented lectures 
focusing on legal ethics and civility in the practice of law for 
Continuing Legal Education Seminars. His commitment to serving the 
community as a professional also is exemplified by his membership in 
the Toledo Rotary Club, as well as his participation in a broad array 
of other charitable activities, ranging from pro bono work for a local 
church to service at a community soup kitchen.
  Judge Zouhary has certainly distinguished himself on the bench. He 
has worked diligently to clear a very large backlog of cases from his 
crowded docket and has made a good deal of headway in that effort. Most 
important, attorneys who have appeared before him--criminal and civil, 
prosecution and defense--speak in glowing terms of his talent, 
fairness, and excellent judicial temperament.
  With Judge Zouhary's impressive record as a legal professional and 
community leader, it should come as no surprise that the American Bar 
Association was unanimous in giving him its highest rating of ``well-
qualified.'' Judge Zouhary is in every way an outstanding nominee, who 
will serve the people of Ohio and of this country well.
  Mr. President, I strongly support the nomination of Judge Jack 
Zouhary as a Federal District Court Judge for the Northern District of 
Ohio.
  I thank the Chair and yield the floor.

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