Durbin Calls on Colleagues to Support President Biden's First Judicial Nominees on the Floor Today

WASHINGTON – Ahead of their confirmation votes on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his Senate colleagues to support the nominations of Julien Xavier Neals, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; and Regina M. Rodriguez, to be United States District Judge for the District of Colorado.  These will be the first judicial nominees confirmed by the Senate during the Biden Administration.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlighted the nominees’ extensive legal experience—experience that was noticeably absent with many judicial nominees during the previous Administration.   Mr. Neals serves as Chief Judge of the Newark Municipal Court.  During his two years on this court, not only did he preside over more than 6,000 cases, but he supervised the entire court’s operations.  Ms. Rodriguez became Chief of the Civil Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, the first Latina and Asian-American person to do so.  She is the first person of Asian-American descent to be nominated for a Federal judgeship in the State of Colorado.

“This week, the Senate will consider several of President Biden’s judicial nominees.  I believe that they understand the role of the judge in our system. They’ll bring much-needed experiential and demographic diversity to our nation’s court,” Durbin said.  “Given the background of these judges in trying cases, arguing appeals, and issuing rulings from the bench, I believe—and the Committee agreed—these judicial nominees are ready for service.”

Durbin concluded, “I commend these two nominees who passed out of our Committee with strong bipartisan votes to my colleagues on the floor today. I hope they’ll join me in supporting them.”

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

Mr. Neals was advanced out of Committee by a vote of 16-6 with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) voting “aye” with all Committee Democrats.

Ms. Rodriguez was advanced out of Committee by a vote of 17-5 with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Kennedy (R-LA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) voting “aye” with all Committee Democrats.

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