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Floor Speech
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Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today the Senate will vote to confirm Edward L. Artau to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
I will vote in opposition to Judge Artau's confirmation to a lifetime appointment on the Federal bench. There are several reasons why I cannot support his nomination. Based on Judge Artau's record, I do not believe that he will be a neutral arbiter on the Federal bench. In a case involving President Trump's lawsuit against the individual members of the Pulitzer Prize Board for defamation and conspiracy, Judge Artau went beyond ruling on the jurisdictional question at issue. In Judge Artau's concurring opinion, he took it upon himself to zealously make the President's case, opening and closing his opinion echoing the President's own words, ``FAKE NEWS.''
The partisan tone of Judge Artau's writing and his zealous advocacy of President Trump's case from the bench leaves the public with no question about his political preferences and raises concerns about his ability to be a neutral arbiter of the law. At a time when this administration's actions are being challenged in courtrooms across the country, it is critical to confirm judges who can assess the merits of each case without favor to any litigant. Judge Artau's concurring opinion makes clear that he would not be able to do this.
I am also troubled by the timing of his nomination and this highly partisan opinion. Judge Artau had been in contact with Senator Scott's office about his interest in filling a judicial vacancy in November 2024, a month before he was assigned to this case.
Despite actively seeking President Trump's nomination, Judge Artau claimed that he did not need to recuse himself or inform the parties in the litigation.
Two days after Judge Artau proved his allegiance to President Trump with his opinion, Judge Artau was advised his name would be recommended to the White House. Eight days after the opinion was issued, Judge Artau was contacted by the White House for an interview.
It is hard to believe that the hyperpartisan tone of Judge Artau's opinion and the timing of his nomination is just a coincidence.
I cannot support Judge Artau's nomination and urge my colleagues to reject this overt attempt to install another MAGA loyalist to the bench.
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