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Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Judge Myong Jin Joun to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Judge Joun is a long-serving State court judge with extensive experience as a litigator. And with his confirmation, this Senate will take another important step forward in building a Federal judiciary that reflects the personal and professional diversity of America and the legal profession.

Born in South Korea, Judge Joun received his J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in 1999. Prior to law school, he served for 6 years in the U.S. Army Massachusetts National Guard as an E-4 specialist. He even served throughout his undergraduate studies at the University of Massachusetts, where he earned a B.A. and graduated magna cum laude. After earning his law degree, Judge Joun began his legal career at a civil rights law firm, where he worked for 6 years before starting his own firm in 2007. During his 15 years in practice, Judge Joun tried approximately 20 cases to verdict, including 17 jury trials. In 2014, Judge Joun was appointed as associate justice of the Boston Municipal Court. Over the past 8 years, he has presided over approximately 140 trials, including 98 jury trials, for both criminal and civil matters. Importantly, if confirmed, Judge Joun would make history as the first Asian-American man and first Korean American to serve on the District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

With his extensive trial experience on and off the bench, Judge Joun will make an excellent addition to the district court. He enjoys the strong support of Senators Warren and Markey. And the American Bar Association has unanimously rated him ``well qualified'' to serve on the District of Massachusetts.

I support this outstanding nominee, and I urge my colleagues to join me in doing so.

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