Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations of Three Circuit Court Judges & Nine District Court Judges

WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Anthony Devos Johnstone, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Maria Araújo Kahn, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; and Julie Rikelman, to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit.

The Committee also advanced the nominations of Daniel J. Calabretta, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of California; Matthew L. Garcia, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico; Margaret R. Guzman, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Jeffery Paul Hopkins, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio; Lindsay C. Jenkins, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois; Araceli Martínez-Olguín, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California; Adrienne C. Nelson, to be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon; Jamar K. Walker, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Jamal N. Whitehead, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington.

The nominations of Jaime E. Esparza, to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas; Alamdar S. Hamdani, to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas; Roger Handberg, to be United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida; Markenzy Lapointe, to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Terry J. Burgin, to be United States Marshal for the Western District of North Carolina; and Glenn M. McNeill, Jr., to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of North Carolina, were also advanced by voice vote.

Johnstone received a vote of 11-10-1.  Kahn received a vote of 12-10.  Rikelman received a vote of 11-11.  Calabretta received a vote of 12-10.  Garcia received a vote of 12-10.  Guzman received a vote of 12-10.  Hopkins received a vote of 16-6.  Jenkins received a vote of 15-7.  Martínez-Olguín received a vote of 12-10.  Nelson received a vote of 12-10.  Walker received a vote of 15-7.  And Whitehead received a vote of 12-10.  Under the provisions of S. Res. 27, Leader Schumer may now file a discharge motion on Ms. Rikelman’s nomination to place her on the executive calendar.

The Committee also advanced S. 2773, Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2021, which was introduced by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), and cosponsored by Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

Key Durbin quotes on two of today’s nominees, Julie Rikelman, to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit, and Lindsay C. Jenkins, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois:

“I want to speak briefly on Julie Rikelman, nominated to the First Circuit, rated unanimously ‘Well Qualified’ [by the ABA]…  A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Ms. Rikelman is a highly skilled trial lawyer and accomplished appellate practitioner.  Before her career as a practicing lawyer, she clerked for judges appointed by both political parties.”

“As an appellate practitioner, Ms. Rikelman has drafted numerous appellate briefs and argued six appeals, including two before the U.S. Supreme Court.  In private practice, she handled a wide range of civil and criminal cases.”

“Importantly, she spent the last decade of her career defending women’s reproductive freedoms.  On behalf of doctors, clinics, women, and girls—Ms. Rikelman has been an advocate for what was, until the Dobbs decision, a core constitutional right—the right of a woman to make reproductive choices about her own body.”

“Let’s be clear: Ms. Rikelman advocated a mainstream legal position in defending Roe v. Wade—which was a 50-year precedent decided 7-2 by the Supreme Court.  Challenging laws that have sought to prevent women from accessing reproductive health care—as Ms. Rikelman did in theDobbs case—is also a mainstream legal position.  And although the Supreme Court did not concur with her litigating position, she testified, under oath before this Committee, that she will apply theDobbs case faithfully.”

“Given Ms. Rikelman’s sterling credentials, commitment to the rule of law, and depth of experience, I think she is an exceptional candidate for the First Circuit.”

“We will also be voting on Lindsay Jenkins’s nomination to the Northern District of Illinois, rated unanimously ‘Well Qualified’ [by the ABA].”

“A graduate of Miami University of Ohio and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, [Ms. Jenkins] clerked on the Northern District of Ohio and worked in private practice for two years before spending 15 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District [of Illinois].”

“As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Ms. Jenkins prosecuted a wide range of cases, including gang-related activity, civil rights violations, and corruption.  During her tenure in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, she rose through the ranks to become Chief of the Criminal Division, overseeing all criminal prosecutions, supervising nearly 150 Assistant U.S. Attorneys.”

“Given her qualifications and deep knowledge of the Northern District, Senator Duckworth and I have unanimously supported her nomination.”

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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