‘More Momentum’ On Judges

Senate Considering Six Additional Circuit Court Nominations
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “This week, the Senate will consider another slate of extremely well-qualified nominees for seats on the federal bench. A thoughtful, independent, and expert judiciary is a cornerstone of our constitutional order. It’s been the case since the very beginning. Accordingly, the six circuit court nominees we’ll now consider have excellent reputations in the legal field, and have demonstrated they understand the proper role of federal judges in our government.”

“When the Senate reconvenes this week, one of the first items of business will be the confirmation of six more of President Donald Trump's federal judicial nominees, adding more momentum to an already torrid pace that is remaking the federal bench …”

‘The Regional Appeals Courts Play A Major Role In Shaping U.S. Law’
“Trump has made quick progress in reshaping federal appeals courts, winning Senate confirmation of 15 nominees to fill vacancies on federal appeals courts…. Trump also has been picking a raft of conservative jurists for lower federal courts and won Senate confirmation last year of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.” (“Trump Push For Conservative Judges Intensifies, To Democrats' Dismay,” Reuters, 5/07/2018)

• “The regional appeals courts play a major role in shaping U.S. law. The judges hear appeals from federal district courts and usually have the final say, as the U.S. Supreme Court takes up only a tiny proportion of cases. The appeals courts can set binding precedents on a broad array of issues …” (“Trump Push For Conservative Judges Intensifies, To Democrats' Dismay,” Reuters, 5/07/2018)

“[C]onfirming Trump’s judicial picks could shape the direction of the U.S. court system for decades.” (“Republicans Confirming Trump's Court Nominees At Record Pace,” The Hill, 5/01/2018)

“Judicial appointments are the sleeper story that matters...” (“Judicial Appointments Are The Sleeper Story That Matters,” Axios, 11/19/2017)

The Next Nominee: Judge Kurt Engelhardt
SEN. BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): “In 2001, Kurt [Engelhardt] was appointed by President George W. Bush to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, where he has been the chief judge since 2015…. Judge Engelhardt is the kind of fair-minded, experienced person we need serving in the judiciary. He has served the people of Louisiana and his fellow Americans well as an Article III judge for the past 17 years and will continue to serve with the same high standards on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.” (Sen. Cassidy, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 1/10/2018)

SEN. JOHN KENNEDY (R-LA): “A couple of years ago, I was called as state treasurer to testify on a major piece of litigation that happened to be in Judge Englehardt’s court…. There was one person in that courtroom who knew more than these lawyers [for each side] about the case, and that was Judge Englehardt…. He was firm. He never raised his voice. He was fair. He kept total control of the courtroom. It was clear to me that he had one objective and one objective alone and that was to get to the bottom of this thing and do what he perceived to be [fair]…. He’s not only a good man and a great judge, he’s got a lot of experience.” (Sen. Kennedy, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 1/10/2018)

• Judge Engelhardt was first confirmed by the Senate by voice vote in 2001. (PN 914, 107^th Congress)
• The Senate Judiciary Committee approved his elevation to the Court of Appeals on a bipartisan vote in February. (“Pending Nominations/Sentencing Reform,” CQ Committee Coverage, 2/08/2018)

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