Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations of Beth Robinson and Jennifer Sung

WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Beth Robinson, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; and Jennifer Sung, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. Durbin delivered opening remarks highlighting the nominees’ qualifications and experience. Robinson received a 10-9 vote and Sung received a 10-10 vote to advance out of Committee. Under the provisions of S. Res. 27, Leader Schumer may now file a discharge motion on Ms. Sung’s nomination to place her on the executive calendar.

The Committee also advanced S. 2429, the bipartisan Administrative False Claims Act of 2021, by unanimous voice vote. The bill, sponsored by Ranking Member Grassley and Chair Durbin, would update the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act, an important but underused law that authorizes administrative civil remedies to penalize fraud against the government. The bill addresses several impediments to enforcement of the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act that were identified by Government Accountability Office.

Key quotes:

“Justice Robinson’s credentials are impeccable… As a practitioner, she specialized in civil litigation and a concentration in workers’ [compensation]. She also maintained a large practice representing LGBTQ clients in civil rights and family law. She was a champion for same-sex couples’ freedom to marry and played an instrumental role in a successful lawsuit challenging Vermont’s ban on same-sex marriage.”

“[Ms. Sung] is a distinguished jurist who will bring an underrepresented perspective to the bench. After clerking for Judge Betty Binns Fletcher on the Ninth Circuit and serving as a prestigious Skadden Fellow, Ms. Sung spent over a decade representing employees and unions in labor disputes…she will bring much needed demographic and professional diversity [to the court].”

Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.

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