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Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will consider another highly qualified judicial nominee to the Federal bench. We will vote to confirm Judge Elizabeth Hanes to the Eastern District of Virginia.

Judge Hanes currently serves as a U.S. magistrate judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, a position to which she was appointed by the current judges of the district court in 2020. She has already issued 100 opinions during her time on the bench.

A lifelong Virginian, Judge Hanes has deep ties to the Eastern District. She was born in Roanoke, VA, and attended the University of Richmond and the University of Richmond School of Law. After graduating, she clerked for Judge Joseph R. Goodwin on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and for Judge Robert B. King on the Fourth Circuit.

Judge Hanes began her career in public service as an assistant federal public defender in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Virginia, a role she held for 7 years. She then joined Consumer Litigation Associates in Richmond. Judge Hanes gained significant trial experience during this time. And throughout her time in legal practice, she represented indigent defendants in criminal matters and low-income clients--including veterans--in civil claims related to predatory lending practices.

Judge Hanes received a ``qualified'' rating from the American Bar Association and has the strong support of Virginia's Senators, Mr. Warner and Mr. Kaine. With her depth of experience and proven commitment to equal justice, Judge Hanes will continue to serve the Eastern District of Virginia with distinction. And importantly, as a former public defender, she will bring vital professional diversity to the Federal bench.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this outstanding nominee.

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