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Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Patrick Casey Pitts to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. After receiving his B.A. and J.D. from Yale University, Mr. Pitts clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Following his clerkship, Mr. Pitts joined Altshuler Berzon LLP, where he has spent his entire legal career. His practice focuses on advocating on behalf of employees--often from low-income, minority, and underserved communities--and unions in labor disputes. Mr. Pitts has extensive litigation experience, trying one case to judgment and litigating more than 100 matters that were resolved through a decision on the merits. And if confirmed, Mr. Pitts will bring vital demographic diversity to the Northern District of California as the only openly LGBTQ article III judge actively serving in that district. He will also bring professional diversity to the Federal bench as a lawyer who has defended the rights of employees and labor organizations.

The American Bar Association rated Mr. Pitts ``qualified,'' and he has the strong support of his home State Senators: Mrs. Feinstein and Mr. Padilla. Mr. Pitts is a seasoned litigator whose credentials and experience make him an outstanding addition to the Northern District of California.

I urge my colleagues to support Mr. Pitts's nomination.

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