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Floor Speech
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Mr. KING. Mr. President, I can't really improve upon the comments made by my senior colleague. I think she summarized Stacey Neumann's qualifications brilliantly and really made the case for her confirmation.
I just wanted to add a couple of notes. One is that not only does she have extraordinary qualifications in terms of having been a public defender and a Federal prosecutor and a civil litigator, she has had experience in all areas of the law, particularly areas of the law involving courtroom practice, motions, negotiations, the whole process that a judge has to preside over in our court system.
In addition, though--I think Senator Collins really beautifully summarized her qualifications, but in addition, I found in my discussions with her and my discussions with others who know her well that she has the important temperament to hold this position and to give confidence to those who appear before her in the court.
Our courts rest upon the trust and confidence of the public. People have to believe that the judges and the people that are involved in our judicial system are nonpartisan, are neutral factfinders, and are going to do their best to apply the law fairly and evenly, no matter who the parties are before them. I believe that Stacey Neumann has that quality of fairness and has the quality of the temperament that is so important to a successful judicial career.
One final note. As a former practicing lawyer in Maine, I appreciate judges who have a bit of humility. Even though they have on the black robe, they identify with the litigants before them and the counsel and don't try to run roughshod over those people that are before them in the court. I think Stacey Neumann has that quality of judicial temperament that is evenhanded, that is empathetic, and I think she will make an extraordinary district court judge in our wonderful city of Bangor, ME.
So I join my senior colleague in urging my colleagues to support this nomination. I think she will be a real asset to the judiciary in the country but particularly to the people of Maine.
I would like to ask unanimous consent that the scheduled vote occur immediately at this moment in time. Thank you.
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