Recognizing the Confirmation of the Honorable Dana M. Douglas to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Investiture of the Honorable Dana M. Douglas, who was confirmed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on December 13, 2022 by the Senate, with bipartisan support, following her nomination by President Joseph R. Biden on June 15, 2022. Judge Douglas received her commission on December 16, 2022.

Judge Douglas' confirmation to the Fifth Circuit is undoubtedly historic, but she additionally has the experience, temperament, and integrity to also be a historic judge on the Fifth Circuit. She will be the first Black woman to ever serve on this circuit.

Judge Douglas is a graduate of Miami University (Ohio) and attended Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans. Upon graduation, she served as a law clerk in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana to the Honorable Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Douglas practiced in the areas of energy, products liability, and intellectual property litigation in the state and federal courts of Louisiana and across a wide variety of industry sectors as shareholder (partner) in a regional law firm based here in New Orleans.

Judge Douglas has been committed to her community for her entire career. She currently sits on the boards of the Thomas More American Inns of Court and Federal Bar Association. She also serves as the Louisiana Bar Foundation Community Partnership Chairperson for Greater New Orleans. Judge Douglas is a Past President of both the New Orleans Bar Association and the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Society. She also served as Chair of the 2017 Annual Justice For All Ball, a fundraiser that benefits The Pro Bono Project which provides pro bono civil legal aid services to the underserved in New Orleans. Judge Douglas served as a Vice-Chair and Commissioner of the New Orleans Civil Service Commission. The Commission is the quasi-judicial and policy-making body that exercises oversight of activities of the city's Civil Service Department. She is also a Charter and Founding Member of the Louisiana Chapter of the Women's Energy Network.

Judge Douglas' service to the community has been formally recognized by many. In 2008, she was presented with the prestigious Louisiana State Bar Association (``LSBA'') President's Award. She was also twice selected as a ``Women of the Year'' honoree by New Orleans CityBusiness and a recipient of the 2018 National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division Outstanding Minority Partner in Majority Firm Award. Judge Douglas is also a past recipient of the LSBA Crystal Gavel Award, the Federal Bar Association Camille Gavel Award, and the Loyola University School of Law Gillis Long Public Service Award.

I was proud to recommend her appointment to President Biden and applaud the Senate on her successful confirmation. Congratulations to Judge Douglas on this momentous achievement. This is a wonderful day for Louisiana and our entire Nation.

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