07.14.21

Durbin Gives Remarks In Judiciary Committee Hearing For Circuit & District Judicial Nominees And Executive Nominee

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the nominations hearing for Myrna Pérez, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; Jia M. Cobb, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Sarah A.L. Merriam, to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut; Florence Y. Pan, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Karen McGlashan Williams, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; and Matthew G. Olsen, to be an Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division.  During his statement, Durbin noted that with these six nominees, the Biden Administration and the Senate continue to bring diversity and professional balance to the bench and the Justice Department. 

Key quotes:

“First, with these nominees, the Biden Administration and the Senate continue to bring diversity and professional balance to the bench.  Today’s slate includes Myrna Perez, who would be the first Latina to serve on the Second Circuit since Justice Sonia Sotomayor.  We will also hear from Florence Pan, who would be the first Asian-American woman to serve on the D.C. District Court.”

“The slate also includes professional diversity.  We have two sitting federal magistrate judges, a judge of the D.C. Superior Court who was previously an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and a former D.C. public defender.”

“And in Mr. Olsen, we have an accomplished national security expert who has spent decades working to protect America from enemies foreign and domestic. 

“We have a civil rights champion in Ms. Perez, who has devoted her career to protecting and defending Americans’ right to vote.  It is a fitting time for her to join the bench, particularly after recent rulings by the Supreme Court… This type of legal experience is underrepresented on the court.  And it is rare to see a voting rights attorney nominated to the federal bench.  This perspective will bring diversity to our courts.”

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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