Norton to Introduce Todd Edelman, Her Recommendation for U.S. District Court for D.C., at Senate Confirmation Hearing, Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will introduce Todd Edelman, whom Norton recommended to President Biden to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, at his Senate confirmation hearing tomorrow, Tuesday November 15, 2022. The hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will be livestreamed.

“Todd Edelman has the intelligence, temperament, and integrity to be an excellent federal judge,” Norton said.

Because D.C. lacks senators, Presidents Clinton, Obama, and Biden granted Norton senatorial courtesy to recommend judges for the U.S. District Court for D.C., the U.S. Attorney for D.C., the U.S. Marshal for the D.C. Superior Court, and the U.S. Marshal for the U.S. District Court for D.C. Norton has established a nominating commission, comprised of lawyers and non-lawyers from all eight wards in D.C., to screen applicants and to make recommendations to her for the senatorial courtesy positions. Norton’s first two recommendations to Biden for the U.S. District Court for D.C., Jia Cobb and Florence Pan, were confirmed by the Senate, and her third recommendation, Ana Reyes, is pending on the Senate floor.

Edelman is a cum laude graduate of both Yale University and New York University School of Law, where he was a Root-Tilden Scholar. He clerked for Judge William B. Bryant of the U.S. District Court for D.C. and was a Fellow in the Criminal Justice Clinic at Georgetown University Law Center through the E. Barrett Prettyman Fellowship Program. Following his clerkship and fellowship, Edelman joined the Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia. Edelman then became Of Counsel at Bredhoff & Kaiser, P.L.L.C., where he represented labor unions and pension funds in complex civil litigation. Since 2010, he has been an Associate Judge on the D.C. Superior Court.

Norton’s introductory remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Hearing on Todd Edelman

November 15, 2022

            Chairman Durbin and Ranking Member Grassley, I appreciate the opportunity to introduce Judge Todd Edelman and to speak in strong support of his nomination for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.  I am especially pleased that President Biden has given me senatorial courtesy for judges on the U.S. District Court for D.C., among other federal positions in D.C.  I recommended Judge Edelman to President Biden for this vacancy.

Judge Edelman is a cum laude graduate of both Yale University and New York University School of Law, where he was a Root-Tilden Scholar.  He clerked for Judge William B. Bryant of the U.S. District Court for D.C. and was a Fellow in the Criminal Justice Clinic at Georgetown University Law Center through the E. Barrett Prettyman Fellowship Program.

Following his clerkship and fellowship, Judge Edelman joined the D.C. Public Defender Service, where he served as a trial attorney for over eight years.  During that time, he was also a supervising attorney, Chief of the Serious Felony Section and a Training Director.  Judge Edelman then became Of Counsel at Bredhoff & Kaiser, P.L.L.C., where he represented labor unions and pension funds in complex civil litigation in both federal and state courts nationwide.

In 2010, Judge Edelman became an Associate Judge on the D.C. Superior Court.  He has presided over cases in the Felony Branch of the Criminal Division, the Domestic Violence Division and the Civil Division. 

Judge Edelman has clearly demonstrated that he possesses all the necessary qualities to be a federal district court judge.  He has the intelligence, temperament and integrity for this position. 

Again, thank you for allowing me to introduce Judge Edelman.

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