Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Committee Hearing on Five Nominations

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Richard E. N. Federico, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals; Judge Joshua P. Kolar, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals; Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan, to be United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota; Judge Eumi K. Lee, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California; and Deborah A. Robinson, to be Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator at the Executive Office of the President.

The hearing continues the Committee’s work filling judicial and executive vacancies with highly qualified, diverse candidates who help ensure the fair and impartial administration of the American justice system.  Under the leadership of Chair Durbin, the Senate has confirmed 140 judges to lifetime appointments on the federal bench during the Biden administration.

Key Quotes:

“First, I’d like to note that Mr. Federico and Judge Kolar both currently serve in the U.S. Armed Forces as reservists following previous active duty service.  We thank them for that.”

“Second, each of today’s judicial nominees has received blue slips from both of their home state Senators.  This includes Mr. Federico, who has received blue slips from Senator Moran and Senator Marshall of Kansas.  And this also includes Judge Kolar, who has received blue slips from Senator Young and Senator Braun of Indiana.  I would like to thank the Kansas and Indiana Senators for continuing to work with the White House in good faith to fill judicial vacancies in their states on a bipartisan basis.”

“There has been a lot of criticism of the blue slip process and it has been abused in the past, but these Senators, and the White House counsel’s office, have shown, once again, that this process can work… and can result in outstanding nominees with broad bipartisan support.”

“I am encouraged that several of my Republican colleagues and the White House have worked in good faith to swiftly identify and advance highly qualified nominees.”

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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