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Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Democratic Senate Majority Confirming Fifty-Six Federal Lifetime Judges

Washington, D.C.   Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor after the Senate confirmed fifty-six federal judges, including Hector Gonzales and Ali Nathan. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

It was another busy and productive evening here on the Senate floor.

Yesterday we confirmed another six judges to important positions on the federal bench, and all of them, I am happy to say, with bipartisan support.

We have now confirmed fifty-six—fifty-six—judges under this Democratic Senate Majority, and I thank my colleagues for their patience and for keeping the pace moving here on the floor last night.

There are two judges I am especially proud to have confirmed: first we confirmed Hector Gonzales to serve as a District Judge for the Eastern District of New York. Mr. Gonzales is a most deserving, most qualified, and most inspiring individual to serve as a judge; born in Cuba, raised in Queens, he is the embodiment of the American Dream.

We also finally confirmed a judge who has inspired me for more than a decade: Ali Nathan, now confirmed as Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit. When I first met her I thought “here is someone who is truly special” and I still believe that to this day. And, to boot, she increases the diversity of the Court as only the second-ever open lesbian on the Second Circuit.

The Second Circuit is one of the most consequential courts in the entire country, calling only for the best of the best to sit on the bench and Ali Nathan fits the bill.

I am glad both of these nominees were confirmed with bipartisan support.

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