05.15.18

Senate Continues Circuit Court Confirmations

‘Yesterday, the Senate voted to confirm two more of President Trump’s fine circuit court nominees. Michael Scudder and Amy St. Eve -- both of Illinois, both exceedingly qualified, and both carrying the bipartisan support of the Judiciary Committee… Today, our progress will continue. We’ll vote to confirm John Nalbandian of Kentucky to serve on the Sixth Circuit and Joel Carson of New Mexico to serve on the Tenth Circuit. Judge Carson has had a distinguished tenure as U.S. Magistrate Judge.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the president’s circuit court nominees, including John Nalbandian for the Sixth Circuit and Joel Carson for the Tenth Circuit:

‘Yesterday, the Senate voted to confirm two more of President Trump’s fine circuit court nominees. Michael Scudder and Amy St. Eve -- both of Illinois, both exceedingly qualified, and both carrying the bipartisan support of the Judiciary Committee.

“Michael Scudder carries an impressive legal record, with extensive experience in both private practice and public service, and the American Bar Association’s highest rating. Judge Amy St. Eve shares the ABA’s unqualified confidence. She’s compiled a seventeen-year record in the Northern District of Illinois. That’s why the Senate confirmed these highly-qualified nominees to serve on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, by a bipartisan margin.

“Today, our progress will continue. We’ll vote to confirm John Nalbandian of Kentucky to serve on the Sixth Circuit and Joel Carson of New Mexico to serve on the Tenth Circuit. Judge Carson has had a distinguished tenure as U.S. Magistrate Judge.

“His peers say his ‘integrity, fairness, and respect for the dignity of others are top notch.’ A bipartisan group of New Mexico attorneys have expressed confidence ‘he will be an excellent addition to the Tenth Circuit.’ And the Judiciary Committee agreed, reporting Judge Carson’s nomination to the full Senate in bipartisan fashion.

“We’ll also vote on John Nalbandian -- from my home state of Kentucky -- who’s been nominated to serve on the Sixth Circuit. Mr. Nalbandian has earned praise from across the political spectrum as a top appellate advocate. He’s known for his fairness, collegiality, and legal ability.

“In 2007, Mr. Nalbandian was appointed to be a Special Justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court. He later sat on the selection panel for magistrate judges in the state’s Eastern District. And more recently, President Obama nominated him to serve on the Board of the State Justice Institute. He was confirmed by voice vote.

“In addition to well-regarded work in private practice, Mr. Nalbandian has also dedicated himself to community causes, such as economic development in Northern Kentucky and greater local representation for minority attorneys. To that end, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association has joined the multitude of supporters of his nomination. They note that, if confirmed, Mr. Nalbandian will be just the seventh active Asian Pacific American federal appellate judge nationwide.

“John Nalbandian has the impressive credentials, the preparation, the broad support -- every indication that he’ll be a worthy and capable judge. We should confirm both these nominees without delay.”

Related Issues: Nominations, Judicial Nominations