Executive Session

Floor Speech

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Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, would I be in order to speak about judges who are going to be voted on?

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator would be in order.

Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I rise in support of the nominations of Debra M. Brown to be U.S. district judge for the Northern District of Mississippi and Gregory Howard Woods to be U.S. district judge for the Southern District of New York.

Before we vote on these nominations, I want to inform my fellow Senators and the American people once again on the excellent progress we have made on nominations and the fair treatment of President Obama's nominees. With these confirmations today, the Senate will have confirmed 38 lower court article III judicial nominees this year.

Despite what I frequently hear--that this President is being treated differently than President Bush--President Obama is clearly ahead of where President Bush was at a similar timeframe, meaning at this time in his second term. The 38 confirmations this year is more than 2 1/2 times the number confirmed at a similar stage in President Bush's second term, when only 14 judicial nominees had been confirmed. In fact, for the entire fifth year of President Bush's term, only 21 lower court judges were confirmed. Again, in President Obama's fifth year we will have confirmed 38 nominees after today's votes.

In addition to the robust pace of activity on the floor, the committee has had an aggressive schedule of hearings and business meetings taking action on many more nominees. In total, the Senate will have confirmed 207 lower court article III judges. We have voted against three nominees. So 207 to 3 being defeated is a success rate for the President of 99 percent of his nominees. I think that is a pretty outstanding record not just for President Obama but for any President. So I reject the continuing rhetoric regarding how Republicans are obstructing President Obama's judicial nominees.

Again, I congratulate the nominees on their anticipated confirmations.

Debra M. Brown is nominated to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi. She received her B.Arch. from Mississippi State University in 1987. She worked as an associate in architectural firms until starting law school in 1994. She received her J.D. from University of Mississippi School of Law in 1997. Upon graduation, she joined Phelps Dunbar LLP as an associate, focusing on commercial litigation primarily in the financial and insurance context representing commercial clients such as banks, mortgage companies, property and casualty insurers and commercial property managers. She became partner in 2004, and handled matters concerning construction-related litigation for construction sureties, general contractors and some subcontractors. In 2012, she moved to Wise Carter Child & Caraway, P.A. There, she continues to handle construction litigation, as well as representation of owners in construction matters, and representation of hospitals and medical providers in the context of employment law and medical malpractice. She has participated in 12 trials, two as sole counsel, and one as chief counsel.

The ABA has given Ms. Brown a rating of ``Unanimous Qualified''.

Gregory Howard Woods is nominated to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. He received his B.A. from Williams College in 1991 and his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1995. After graduating from law school, Mr. Woods joined the Department of Justice as a trial attorney in the civil division. While at DOJ, his practice included investigating and litigating cases under the False Claims Act. In 1998, Mr. Woods joined Debevoise & Plimpton as an associate and was made an equity partner in 2004. At Debevoise & Plimpton his practice was focused almost exclusively on corporate transactional law. As a partner, he devoted his practice principally to finance and restructuring matters.

In August 2009 he was named Deputy General Counsel for the Department of Transportation. In 2012, after Senate confirmation, he was appointed by President Obama to be General Counsel of the Department of Energy.

The ABA has given Mr. Woods a rating of ``Majority Qualified, Minority Well Qualified''.

I yield the floor.

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