Executive Session

Floor Speech

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Mrs. MURRAY. Mr President, I wish to speak briefly about an outstanding candidate nominated to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. On June 4, 2013, President Obama nominated Patricia Millett to be a United States Circuit Judge.

Patricia's qualifications to be a United States Circuit Judge are impeccable. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Patricia practiced at Miller & Chevalier and worked as a law clerk for Judge Thomas Tang, on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Following 4 years in the appellate section of the Department of Justice's Civil Division, Patricia served as assistant to the Solicitor General for more than a decade.

After her public service, Patricia joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where she heads the firm's Supreme Court practice and is co-leader of its national appellate practice. She has extensive experience arguing cases before the Supreme Court--32 in all and is without question one of the Nation's leading appellate lawyers. Patricia's experience, education, and character have earned her praise from colleagues and clients alike. Following her nomination, the American Bar Association rated her unanimously well qualified to serve as a United States Circuit Judge.

Patricia is also a military spouse, having steadfastly stood by her husband's side as he served his country in uniform for 22 years. As she awaits Senate confirmation, I am proud to say Patricia's nomination is supported by Blue Star Families, by veterans, and active-duty members of the Armed Forces, who today stand with her as she prepares to serve her country once more. Their support is a testament to Patricia's character and to the integrity with which she will serve as a federal judge.

I rise today to not only speak in strong support of Patricia's nomination, but also to decry the decision by Senate Republicans to once again play politics with President Obama's nominees and to place partisanship above all else.

I rise today because my colleagues in the minority have declared it unnecessary to fill the three vacancies on the DC Circuit, including the seat to which Patricia has been nominated. The Senate Republicans on the Judiciary Committee propose eliminating the 9th, 10th, and 11th seats on the DC Circuit, rather than confirming nominees put forward by this President. Now, of course, my Republican colleagues dispute any partisan motivation. Instead, they claim a diminished caseload on the DC Circuit simply does not warrant confirmation of President Obama's nominees. This might be a persuasive argument were it not belied by Senate Republicans' confirmation of President Bush's nominees to these same seats and by the fact that the DC Circuit caseload has been consistent over the past decade and has even increased in recent years.

In fact, when John Roberts, now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, last held the seat Patricia would occupy, his caseload was lower than the pending caseload Patricia will encounter on her first day as a judge. Let me be clear, the fight over this confirmation has nothing to do with Patricia--instead it has everything to do with the fact that a Democrat, rather than a Republican, now controls the White House. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are doing everything they can to prevent confirmation of this President's nominees.

Truly, the stakes are too high for this type of political gamesmanship, The DC Circuit is often called the second most important court in the United States, and for good reason. The DC Circuit handles some of the most complicated cases that enter the Federal court system, and its decisions touch the lives of Americans each and every day. From decisions affecting our clean air and water, to decisions having broad implications for labor relations, elections, and how we interpret and apply the Americans with Disabilities Act--decisions by the DC Circuit impact not only the quality of our lives today, but also our children's lives tomorrow.

Most importantly for our men and women in uniform, for our veterans, and for their families, the DC Circuit has jurisdiction over the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Its decisions matter to our servicemembers, to our veterans, and to their families--which is why it is shameful that Senate Republicans would rather play politics than allow a clean up or down vote on Patricia's nomination. The American people expect more from us. They deserve more from us.

I urge my colleagues to set aside partisanship and politics and allow an up or down vote on Patricia's nomination. Through her distinguished career and public service, Patricia Millett has earned not only our admiration and respect, but our support. Join me in supporting this nominee who is eminently qualified to serve as a United States Circuit Judge.

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