confirmation hearings on federal appointments hearing committee on the judiciary united states

712 Pages·2007·9.56 MB·English

S. HRG. 110–138
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS ON FEDERAL
APPOINTMENTS
HEARING
BEFORETHE
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
FEBRUARY 6, MARCH 13, APRIL 11, JUNE 20, AND JULY 19, 2007
PART 1
Serial No. J–110–8
Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary
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S. HRG. 110–138
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS ON FEDERAL
APPOINTMENTS
HEARING
BEFORETHE
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
FEBRUARY 6, MARCH 13, APRIL 11, JUNE 20, AND JULY 19, 2007
PART 1
Serial No. J–110–8
Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary
(
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COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont, Chairman
EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Massachusetts ARLEN SPECTER, Pennsylvania
JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., Delaware ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah
HERB KOHL, Wisconsin CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa
DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California JON KYL, Arizona
RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD, Wisconsin JEFF SESSIONS, Alabama
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York LINDSEY O. GRAHAM, South Carolina
RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois JOHN CORNYN, Texas
BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas
SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, Rhode Island TOM COBURN, Oklahoma
BRUCE A. COHEN, Chief Counsel and Staff Director
MICHAEL O’NEILL, Republican Chief Counsel and Staff Director
(II)
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C O N T E N T S
February 6, 2007
STATEMENT OF COMMITTEE MEMBER
Page
Leahy, Hon. Patrick J., a U.S. Senator from the State of Vermont .................... 1
prepared statement .......................................................................................... 109
PRESENTERS
Byrd, Hon. Robert, a U.S. Senator from the State of West Virginia presenting
John Preston Bailey, Nominee to be District Judge for the Northern District
of West Virginia ................................................................................................... 3
Capito, Hon. Shelly Moore, a Representative in Congress from the State
of West Virginia presenting John Preston Bailey, Nominee to be District
Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia ............................................. 5
STATEMENTS OF THE NOMINEES
Bailey, John Preston, Nominee to be District Judge for the Northern District
of West Virginia ................................................................................................... 7
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 8
Wright, Otis D., II, Nominee to be District Judge for the Central District
of California .......................................................................................................... 37
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 38
Wu, George H., Nominee to be District Judge for the Central District of
California .............................................................................................................. 63
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 64
SUBMISSIONS FOR THE RECORD
Feinstein, Hon. Dianne, a U.S. Senator from the State of California, prepared
statement .............................................................................................................. 103
Rockefeller, Hon. John D., IV, a U.S. Senator from the State of West Virginia,
prepared statement .............................................................................................. 112
March 13, 2007
STATEMENT OF COMMITTEE MEMBER
Durbin, Hon. Richard J., a U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois .................... 113
PRESENTERS
Cochran, Hon. Thad, a U.S. Senator from the State of Mississippi presenting
Halil Suleyman Ozerden, Nominee to be District Judge for the Southern
District of Mississippi .......................................................................................... 114
Lott, Hon. Trent, a U.S. Senator from the State of Mississippi presenting
Halil Suleyman Ozerden, Nominee to be District Judge for the Southern
District of Mississippi .......................................................................................... 115
STATEMENTS OF THE NOMINEES
Kapala, Frederick J., Nominee to be Distict Judge for the Northern District
of Illinois ............................................................................................................... 184
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 185
(III)
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Page
Ozerden, Halil Suleyman, Nominee to be District Judge for the Southern
District of Mississippi .......................................................................................... 118
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 119
Settle, Benjamin Hale, Nominee to be District Judge for the Western District
of Washington ....................................................................................................... 154
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 155
SUBMISSIONS FOR THE RECORD
Cochran, Hon. Thad, a U.S. Senator from the State of Mississippi, prepared
statement .............................................................................................................. 224
Lott, Hon. Trent, a U.S. Senator from the State of Mississippi, prepared
statement .............................................................................................................. 234
APRIL 11, 2007
STATEMENT OF COMMITTEE MEMBER
Schumer, Hon. Charles E., a U.S. Senator from the State of New York ............ 239
PRESENTER
Lugar, Hon. Richard, a U.S. Senator from the State of Indiana presenting
Joseph A. Van Bokkelen, Nominee to be District Judge for the Northern
District of Indiana ................................................................................................ 237
STATEMENTS OF THE NOMINEES
Livingston, Debra Ann, Nominee to be Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit.... 241
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 242
Mauskopf, Roslynn Renee, Nominee to be District Judge for the Eastern
District of New York ............................................................................................ 276
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 277
Sullivan, Richard Joseph, Nominee to be District Judge for the Southern
District of New York ............................................................................................ 307
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 308
Van Bokkelen, Joseph S., Nominee to be District Judge for the Northern
District of Indiana ................................................................................................ 336
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 337
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Responses of Roslynn Renee Mauskopf to questions submitted by Senator
Feingold ................................................................................................................ 377
SUBMISSION FOR THE RECORD
Clinton, Hon. Hillary Rodham, a U.S. Senator from the State of New York,
prepared statement .............................................................................................. 385
JUNE 20, 2007
STATEMENTS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Feinstein, Hon. Dianne, a U.S. Senator from the State of California ................. 389
Leahy, Hon. Patrick J., a U.S. Senator from the State of Vermont, prepared
statement .............................................................................................................. 519
PRESENTERS
Burr, Hon. Richard, a U.S. Senator from the State of North Carolina pre-
senting William Linday Osteen, Jr., Nominee to be District Judge for the
Middle District of North Carolina, and Martin Karl Reidiner, Nominee
to be District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina ..................... 393
Dole, Hon. Elizabeth, a U.S. Senator from the State of North Carolina pre-
senting William Lindsay Osteen, Jr., Nominee to be District Judge for
the Middle District of North Carolina, and Martin Karl Reidinger, Nominee
to be District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina ..................... 390
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Page
Feinstein, Hon. Dianne, a U.S. Senator from the State of California pre-
senting Janis Sammartino, Nominee to be District Judge for the Southern
District of California ............................................................................................ 394
Inhofe, Hon. James M., a U.S. Senator from the State of Oklahoma pre-
senting Timothy D. DeGiusti, Nominee to be District Judge for the Western
District of Oklahoma............................................................................................ 391
STATEMENTS OF THE NOMINEES
DeGiusti, Timothy D., Nominee to be District Judge for the Western District
of Oklahoma ......................................................................................................... 450
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 451
Osteen, William Lindsay, Jr., Nominee to be District Judge for the Middle
District of North Carolina ................................................................................... 395
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 397
Reidinger, Martin Karl, Nominee to be District Judge for the Western District
of Oklahoma ......................................................................................................... 421
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 422
Sammartino, Janis Lynn, Nominee to be District Judge for the Southern
District of California ............................................................................................ 479
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 480
JULY 19, 2007
STATEMENTS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Page
Cardin, Hon. Benjamin, a U.S. Senator from the State of Maryland ................. 521
Leahy, Hon. Patrick J., a U.S. Senator from the State of Vermont, prepared
statement .............................................................................................................. 702
PRESENTERS
Cochran, Hon. Thad, a U.S. Senator from the State of Mississippi presenting
Sharion Aycock, Nominee to be District Judge for the Northern District
of Mississippi ........................................................................................................ 558
Cornyn, Hon. John, a U.S. Senator from the State of Texas presenting Jen-
nifer Elrod, Nominee to be Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit ....................... 525
Hutchison, Hon. Kay Bailey, a U.S. Senator from the State of Texas pre-
senting Jennifer Elrod, Nominee to be Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit .... 525
Lott, Hon. Trent, a U.S. Senator from the State of Mississippi presenting
Sharion Aycock, Nominee to be District Judge for the Northern District
of Mississippi ........................................................................................................ 522
Murray, Hon. Patty, a U.S. Senator from the State of Washington presenting
Richard Jones, Nominee to be District Judge for the Western District
of Washington ....................................................................................................... 523
STATEMENTS OF THE NOMINEES
Elrod, Jennifer Walker, Nominee to be Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit ....... 528
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 529
Jones, Richard, A., Nominee to be District Judge for the Western District
of Washington ....................................................................................................... 565
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 566
Aycock, Sharion, Nominee to be District for the Northern District of Mis-
sissippi .................................................................................................................. 610
Questionnaire.................................................................................................... 611
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Responses of Sharion Aycock to questions submitted by Senator Cardin .......... 652
Responses of Jennifer Elrod to questions submitted by Senators Cardin, Dur-
bin, Feinstein and Leahy ..................................................................................... 655
Responses of Richard A. Jones to questions submitted by Senator Cardin ........ 699
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Page
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF NOMINEES
Aycock, Sharion, Nominee to be District Judge for the Northern District
of Mississippi ........................................................................................................ 610
Bailey, John Preston, Nominee to be District Judge for the Northern District
of West Virginia ................................................................................................... 7
DeGiusti, Timothy D., Nominee to be District Judge for the Western District
of Oklahoma ......................................................................................................... 450
Elrod, Jennifer Walker, Nominee to be Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit ....... 528
Jones, Richard, A., Nominee to be District Judge for he Western District
of Washington ....................................................................................................... 565
Kapala, Frederick J., Nominee to be Distict Judge for the Northern District
of Illinois ............................................................................................................... 184
Livingston, Debra Ann, Nominee to be Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit.... 241
Mauskopf, Roslynn Renee, nominee to be District Judge for the Eastern
District of New York ............................................................................................ 276
Osteen, William Lindsay, Jr., Nominee to be District Judge for the Middle
District of North Carolina ................................................................................... 395
Ozerden, Halil Suleyman, Nominee to be District Judge for the Southern
District of Mississippi .......................................................................................... 118
Reidinger, Martin Karl, Nominee to be District Judge for the Western District
of Oklahoma ......................................................................................................... 421
Sammartino, Janis Lynn, Nominee to be District Judge for the Southern
District of California ............................................................................................ 479
Settle, Benjamin Hale, Nominee to be District Judge for the Western District
of Washington ....................................................................................................... 154
Sullivan, Richard Joseph, Nominee to be District Judge for the Southern
District of New York ............................................................................................ 307
Van Bokkelen, Joseph S., Nominee to be District Judge for the Northern
District of Indiana ................................................................................................ 336
Wright, Otis D., II, Nominee to be District Judge for the Central District
of California .......................................................................................................... 37
Wu, George H., Nominee to be District Judge for the Central District of
California .............................................................................................................. 63
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NOMINATIONS OF JOHN PRESTON BAILEY,
NOMINEE TO BE U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE FOR
THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIR-
GINIA; OTIS D. WRIGHT, II, NOMINEE TO BE
U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA; AND GEORGE H.
WU, NOMINEE TO BE U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE
FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALI-
FORNIA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2007
U.S. SENATE,
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY,
Washington, DC
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:37 p.m., in room
226, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Patrick J. Leahy (Chair-
man of the Committee) presiding.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. PATRICK J. LEAHY, A U.S.
SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF VERMONT
Chairman LEAHY. Good afternoon. I apologize for the voice. I
guess I’m just not used to cold weather, or at least not in Wash-
ington.
We’re holding our first confirmation hearing of the new Congress
for three nominations for important lifetime appointments to Fed-
eral District Courts. The nominees before us today, John Preston
Bailey for the Northern District of West Virginia, Otis D. Wright
for the Central District of California, and George H. Wu of the Cen-
tral District of California, each come to us with the support of their
home State Senators.
I know Senators Feinstein, Boxer, and Rockefeller would have
liked to have been here today to introduce the nominees, but
there’s a closed, members-only briefing on the National Intelligence
estimate that was issued last week on the situation in Iraq, and
they were there. Rather than reschedule this—I know all of you
made plans—we wouldn’t.
We made some progress. At our first executive business meeting,
the Judiciary Committee reported out five judicial nominations
about 2 weeks after they were sent to us.
Three of these were vacancies determined by the Administrative
Office of the U.S. Courts to be judicial emergencies. All five are
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among those returned to the President without Senate action at
the end of last Congress.
I should note that there are no objections from the Democratic
side, but apparently when the Republican Senators objected to
going forward with one of the President’s judicial nominees, or a
couple of them, in September and December, it held it all up.
In any event, we pulled them back up. Five of them were con-
firmed by the Senate, and it showed it can be done. Judge Wood
was the first one confirmed this year. Both Senators Chambliss and
Isaacson were concerned about him, and we were able to do it.
Senators Zinhoff and Coburn were concerned about Judge
Freizell. They had hoped to get him confirmed last year and they
said they knew that the hold was on their side of the aisle, which,
for those of you who don’t understand it, when you’re getting down
toward the end of the session, any Senator, either party, can basi-
cally hold things up. So, they had.
I felt that they should have gone through, and I have assured
those four Senators I would put them on the agenda immediately
this year, and they were. Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer
worked very hard on the two from California.
Going over the numbers last night—I will brag just a tiny bit—
with the five confirmations last week, we’ve confirmed more of
President Bush’s nominations in 18 months I have served as Judi-
ciary Committee Chairman, and the more than 2 years when Sen-
ator Hatch chaired the committee with a Republican Senate Major-
ity, or during the last Congress when we had a Republican Senate
Majority.
I just mention that to those who think Democrats hold them up.
I do it to encourage our Republican friends to try to move as quick-
ly on President Bush’s nominees as I am, because some of them—
not the four Senators I mentioned earlier, all of whom went out of
their way to praise what we did on this—but some have been try-
ing to raise a scare.
After I became Chairman, they ranted that ‘‘the sky is falling’’
and we would not proceed on any judicial nominations. I actually
suggested to the administration, I’d give them their choice. We
could move it at the rate that we did in the 18 months we were
in Majority, or the rest of the time when they were.
I might say, Mr. Chairman, while you have been setting the
NASCAR record coming down the hall, I’ve been basically filibus-
tering up here.
[Laughter.]
But I had a good teacher.
Senator Byrd, who is, of course, the president pro tem of the U.S.
Senate, the longest-serving member for our body—years ago, when
my seniority moved up a tad, I was given my choice of seats and
I chose the role with Senator Byrd.
There’s three seats there: Senator Byrd, Senator Dodd, and my-
self. I used to call it the white-haired role, but I guess it’s two
white-hairs and one bald guy.
[Laughter.]
But it’s worked out well.
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