Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees in Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON – During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Judge Dana Douglas, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, and Bradley Garcia, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. Durbin focused his questions on differentiating between advocating for a client in private practice and the impartiality of a judge.

“You have been in private practice. You have represented clients, some of them controversial. Many people are going to draw conclusions about who you are and what you believe in based on your clients. Tell me your own thoughts on advocacy for a client versus the responsibility of a judge,” Durbin asked both Judge Douglas and Mr. Garcia to explain.

In her response, Judge Douglas discussed her experience representing a wide-range of clients, from individuals to Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits. Judge Douglas explained that, while serving on the bench, she strives to preside over cases with Judicial Canon 3 in mind, which requires judges to approach cases with impartiality.

Mr. Garcia noted that while both the role of advocate and judge are vital to the judicial system, they serve different functions. Explaining that his resume has allowed him to work on both ends of this spectrum, Mr. Garcia emphasized that his experience clerking for Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan will assist him in remaining unbiased if he is confirmed as a judge for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Video of Durbin’s questioning of Judge Douglas and Garcia in Committee is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s questioning of Judge Douglas and Garcia in Committee is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s questioning of Judge Douglas and Garcia in Committee is available here.

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