Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Latest Judiciary Committee Hearing on Four Judicial Nominations

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Kevin Gafford Ritz, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit; Brian Edward Murphy, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Rebecca L. Pennell, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington; and Jeannette A. Vargas, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York.

Key Quotes:

"I am pleased to introduce Kevin Ritz, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Mr. Ritz grew up in Memphis, and he received his B.A. from the University of Virginia. He went on to earn his M.S. from the highly respected Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and his J.D from the University of Virginia School of Law."

"After law school, Mr. Ritz served as a law clerk to Judge Julia Smith Gibbons on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Memphis. He then began working as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee. He went on to serve in a variety of roles within the office, and as Appellate Chief he personally wrote more than 200 briefs and argued 37 federal appeals."

"After receiving blue slips from both Tennessee Senators, Mr. Ritz was confirmed by the Senate to be U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee by voice vote in September of 2022. In that role, he serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the 22 counties of the district and supervises the other attorneys in the office. As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Ritz created the National Security and Civil Rights Unit within the Criminal Division of his office. He also regularly meets with and convenes law enforcement and community partners to discuss violent crime reduction efforts and other priorities."

"I congratulate Mr. Ritz and his family on his nomination, and I look forward to hearing his testimony today."

Video of Durbin's opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin's opening statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin's opening statement is available here for TV Stations.

Durbin also pushed back on Senator Marsha Blackburn's (R-TN) opposition to Mr. Ritz's nomination to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit and noted that the White House consulted with the Tennessee Senators on this vacancy significantly more than precedent requires.

Key Quotes:

"Let me say at the outset, Mr. Ritz has been judged by the American Bar Association… they contacted attorneys in the area as well as judges. Their conclusion, 'Unanimously Well Qualified.'"

"I have said it many times-there cannot be one set of rules for Republican nominees and another for Democratic nominees. So today and throughout this session, I am following the same standard that Senate Republicans set. Senate Republicans confirmed a nominee to the Third Circuit after the Trump White House refused to let Democratic home state Senators even meet with him. Another Third Circuit nominee was informed that he would be nominated weeks before the Trump White House had a single conversation about the vacancy with Senator Casey of Pennsylvania. And the Trump White House Counsel informed Senator Baldwin of Wisconsin during their very first conversation about a Seventh Circuit vacancy that the White House had already selected a nominee without her knowledge. That doesn't seem like much consultation to me. But Senate Republicans said it was plenty."

"Given that history, the White House consulted with the Tennessee Senators on this very vacancy significantly more than precent requires. The White House has been discussing this… with the Tennessee Senators since August of 2023. They exchanged names of potential candidates in October of 2023. Mr. Ritz interviewed with members of the Tennessee Senators' staffs in both October and November 2023. The White House Counsel's Office interviewed the Tennessee Senators' suggested candidates in November of 2023. The White House then gave the Tennessee Senators the opportunity to choose from three candidates, including Mr. Ritz. The Tennessee Senators refused to do so. The White House also repeatedly offered the Tennessee Senators the opportunity to interview Mr. Ritz. Senator Blackburn did not take them up on the offer until March of this year and Senator Hagerty did not conduct an interview with Mr. Ritz until yesterday. My Democratic colleagues would have been grateful to receive such a courtesy from the Trump White House. But what did Senator Blackburn offer instead? Calling this a 'back-room deal.'"

"Senators Blackburn and Hagerty may have preferred another individual for the vacancy, but consistent with precedent set by former Republican Chairs of the Committee, we will proceed with the hearing for Mr. Ritz."

Video of Durbin's response to Sen. Blackburn is available here.

Audio of Durbin's response to Sen. Blackburn is available here.

Footage of Durbin's response to Sen. Blackburn is available here for TV Stations.

Today's hearing continues the Committee's work filling judicial and executive vacancies with highly qualified, diverse candidates who help ensure the fair and impartial administration of the American justice system. Under the leadership of Chair Durbin, the Senate has confirmed 193 judges to lifetime appointments on the federal bench during the Biden administration. Nine lifetime judges - including two circuit court nominees and seven district court nominees - are eligible for a vote on the Senate floor.

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