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Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today the Senate will vote to confirm Ramon Reyes to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Judge Reyes received his B.S. from Cornell University, his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, and his LL.M. from NYU Law School.

Judge Reyes began his legal career with the New York City Council as a legislative attorney. After taking a year to clerk for Judge David Trager on the Eastern District, he spent 3 years in private practice before joining the U.S. attorney's office in the Southern District of New York as an assistant U.S. attorney. While in the U.S. attorney's office, Judge Reyes handled a wide range of civil and criminal matters, including cases involving civil rights violations, healthcare fraud, false claims, and environmental issues. In 2004, he was appointed deputy chief of appeals.

In recognition of his broad experience and legal acumen, including three jury trials and three bench trials as an AUSA, Judge Reyes was appointed in 2006 to serve as a Federal magistrate judge in the Eastern District of New York. Since taking the bench, he has presided over 33 trials that cover a range of issues including criminal matters, employment suits, and civil rights cases.

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Judge Reyes as ``well qualified,'' and he has the strong support of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand.

I will be supporting his nomination, and I urge my colleagues to do so, as well.

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