Senate Confirms Two More Norton Selections for U.S. District Judges Here

Senate Confirms Two More Norton Selections for U.S. District Judges Here

December 23, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that the Senate has confirmed two U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia nominees, Beryl A. Howell and Robert L. Wilkins, as recommended to the President by the Congresswoman.

"Beryl Howell and Robert Wilkins, who represent the best of the brilliant lawyers who live in the District, bring a full range of experience that will prove beneficial to D.C. residents and to our federal trial court alike," Norton said.

The Republicans blocked Senate confirmation of all 15 nominees approved after the 2010 elections by the Senate Judiciary Committee, including two Norton nominees, D.C. Superior Court Judge James "Jeb" E. Boasberg and Amy Berman Jackson. However, Norton said that the across-the-board block of all these judges was based on timing and the Senate end-of-session calendar and not on the qualifications of the judicial nominees. Norton is confident that Boasberg and Jackson will be confirmed when the Senate returns.

The Congresswoman is currently in the process of making her fifth U.S. district court selection to send to President Obama. President Obama gave Norton senatorial courtesy for important federal law enforcement posts here. To further equal treatment of her constituents with residents of the states, and to give them a say on important law enforcement officials, the Congresswoman established a 17-member Federal Law Enforcement Commission, made up of D.C. residents from every Ward, chaired by Pauline Schneider. Norton established the commission to investigate the qualifications and background of candidates and make recommendations from whom she then selects her final choices to submit to the President after her interviews.