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Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Jamel Semper to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Mr. Semper attended Hampton University and Rutgers Law School before clerking for Judge Harold Fullilove on the Essex County Superior Court of New Jersey. He then spent 10 years as a state prosecutor in both the Union County Prosecutor's Office and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, where he prosecuted a range of criminal offenses, including sexual assault, firearms offenses, fraud, and murder. During this time, he was also the lead prosecutor in a domestic terrorism and murder case that involved the first prosecution of a homicide under New Jersey's domestic terrorism statute. In 2018, Mr. Semper joined the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey. He now serves as deputy chief of the office's criminal division and is responsible for implementation of the office's violent crime reduction strategy. Mr. Semper is a highly experienced litigator, having tried at least 40 cases to verdict, including both jury and bench trials.

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Mr. Semper ``well qualified'' to serve on the district court, and the New Jersey Senators strongly support his nomination.

Mr. Semper's deep ties to New Jersey and proven dedication to equal justice will make him an asset to the district court. I will vote in favor of his nomination, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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