Executive Session

Floor Speech

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Ms. HIRONO. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the nomination of Derrick Kahala Watson to be a district judge for the U.S. District Court of Hawaii. But before I discuss this nomination, I would like to join with the rest of my colleagues in acknowledging the week we have had and how trying it has been for all Americans. The horrific bombing at the Boston Marathon, the targeting of Senate offices and the President with mail containing poison, other actions at the Capitol, and now this tragic explosion in Texas have captured our attention and given us all perspective on what is important in life. Our hearts go out to all the victims and their families.

Turning now to Mr. Watson's nomination, I thank Chairman Leahy and Ranking Member Grassley of the Judiciary Committee for their quick consideration, referring this nomination to the full Senate for a vote. Mr. Watson was born in Hawaii. He attended Harvard college and Harvard Law School and started a successful career in law in San Francisco, CA, before returning to Hawaii to serve as an assistant U.S. attorney.

Mr. Watson testified before the Judiciary Committee in January at my first hearing as a Senator. He demonstrated that he had the qualifications, ability, and temperament to be an outstanding judge for Hawaii.

Once he is confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Watson will be the only person of Native Hawaiian descent serving as an article III judge, and only the fourth to serve in the history of the United States.

In addition, once he joins the Federal bench in Hawaii, that court will be the first majority Asian American Pacific Islander article III court in American history.

I am proud to support Judge Watson, and I am happy that the Senate will vote to confirm him today. I certainly urge all my colleagues to cast a unanimous vote for his nomination.

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