Senate Judiciary Committee Quickly Approves Two Norton Picks for District Court Nominees
Senate Judiciary Committee Quickly Approves Two Norton Picks for District Court Nominees
February 3, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee has once again approved D.C. Superior Court Judge James "Jeb" E. Boasberg and Amy Berman Jackson for U.S. District Court Judges for the District of Columbia, both of whom Congresswoman Norton recommended to President Barack Obama. Boasberg and Jackson were approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee last year during the lame-duck Congress, but the Republicans blocked Senate confirmation of all 15 nominees approved by the committee after the election. "I appreciate that the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by my good friend Senator Pat Leahy, have acted so quickly," said Norton. "I expect both nominees will be sitting on the federal bench shortly. They are exceptional representatives of the high-quality D.C. bar." Their nominations now go to the Senate floor for confirmation.
President Obama, like President Clinton, gave Norton senatorial courtesy to recommend candidates for important federal law enforcement posts in the District. The Congresswoman established a 17-member Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission, made up of D.C. residents from every ward and chaired by Pauline Schneider, to vet and then recommend candidates from whom the Congresswoman then selects her final choices to submit to the President. The Congresswoman expects to receive candidates soon for another U.S. District Court vacancy here.
Last Congress, the Senate confirmed Norton's recommendations for the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Ronald Machen, and the U.S. District Court Judges for the District of Columbia, Beryl A. Howell and Robert L. Wilkins, as well as for the U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia, Edwin D. Sloane.