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Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin to the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.

Born in Sumter, SC, Judge Austin earned her B.S. from the University of South Carolina School of Engineering and her J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law. After law school, Judge Austin completed a clerkship for Judge Matthew J. Perry on the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. She then entered private practice as a patent attorney for the Hardaway Law Firm, where she was responsible for drafting and prosecuting patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Judge Austin also worked in business litigation at Womble Carlyle Sandridge and Rice, PLLC, where she handled matters ranging from intellectual property litigation to Fair Housing Act claims.

In 2011, Judge Austin was appointed to an 8-year term as a federal magistrate judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. She was reappointed to the position in 2019. Throughout her time on the bench, Judge Austin has issued thousands of reports and recommendations. She also presides over the district's drug court program, which identifies criminal defendants whose presence in the criminal justice system is primarily a function of drug abuse rather than independently motivated criminal behavior.

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Judge Austin as ``well qualified,'' and she has the strong support of Senators Graham and Scott.

Judge Austin's dedication to service, knowledge of the District of South Carolina, and judicial experience make her an outstanding nominee. I will vote in favor of her confirmation and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

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