01.31.18

Minnesota Supreme Court Justice David Stras Will ‘Make An Excellent Circuit Court Judge’

Justice David Stras Has A ‘Reputation For Thoughtfulness, Fairness, And Intellectual Excellence’

SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “David Stras of Minnesota… currently serves as Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Three of his former colleagues on that Court, now retired, praised him in an open letter last year for his sterling academic record, his considerable experience, and his ability to hear cases – quote – ‘with objectivity and an open mind.’ Their testimony only confirms Mr. Stras’s well-known reputation for thoughtfulness, fairness, and intellectual excellence.” (Sen. McConnell, Floor Remarks, 1/29/2018)

SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R-IA): “Justice Stras is a very accomplished, impressive nominee. He has a long judicial record of impartiality. I strongly support his nomination...” (Sen. Grassley, Press Release, 1/29/2018)

  • SEN. GRASSLEY: “Justice Stras is the grandson of Holocaust survivors. He graduated #1 in his class from Kansas Law School in 1999. He served as a law clerk to two federal circuit court judges and to a justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. Justice Stras has served on the Minnesota Supreme Court since his appointment in 2010. In 2012, he ran for a full six-year term. He handily defeated his opponent, winning 56% of the vote. Justice Stras has received wide bipartisan support from the Minnesota legal community. He taught law for many years at the University of Minnesota. He also teaches law at the University of Iowa in my home state. Many of the faculty—including even liberal professors such as Professor Shelly Kurtz—strongly endorse Justice Stras’s nomination. His time in the private sector was spent at two highly regarded law firms.” (Sen. Grassley, Press Release, 1/29/2018)

‘Senate Confirms Trump’s 13th Circuit Court Judge’

“The Senate confirmed Minnesota Supreme Court Justice David Stras to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday, the federal appeals court based in St. Louis, Mo. …Stras was confirmed on a 56-42 vote. Stras clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court and taught at the University of Minnesota Law School before his elevation to the state supreme court in 2010.” (“Another Week, Another Trump Nominee Confirmed To The Courts,” The Daily Caller, 1/30/2017)

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN): ‘I look at this and have to answer the question is he qualified, could he serve on the Eighth Circuit? I have to say yes.’ “Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., joined her Republican colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee in voting 13-8 to send Stras' nomination to the full Senate. ‘I want to make clear he would not be my first choice for this job,’ said Klobuchar, one of just two Democrats in favor of Stras in a vote that otherwise broke by party lines. ‘But morally when I look at this and have to answer the question is he qualified, could he serve on the Eighth Circuit? I have to say yes.’” (“Stras Clears Senate Committee With Local Help,” Star Tribune, 1/19/2018)

ALAN PAGE, HELEN MEYER, & PAUL ANDERSON, Retired MN Supreme Court Justices: “We write to urge that the Senate Judiciary Committee and the U.S. Senate act expeditiously to confirm the nomination of Minnesota Associate Supreme Court Justice David R. Stras to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Justice Stras has all the attributes and qualifications necessary to make an excellent circuit court judge. We have firsthand knowledge that this is true given that we served with him as justices on the Minnesota Supreme Court. … we former colleagues of Justice Stras on the Minnesota Supreme Court and not currently serving in the judiciary agree that he will make an excellent Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals judge. He will serve the Eighth Circuit and our country well.” (“The Case For The Nomination Of David Stras To The Federal Courts,” Star Tribune, 6/2/2017)

  • “As his colleagues on the court, we have gained firsthand insights into his abilities and qualifications. He is a hard worker and was always prepared for the cases that came before us. He was a valued voice during court conferences. While he looks at issues from a definite and well-defined perspective, he evaluates legal issues with objectivity and an open mind, traits that are not universal. We found him to be independent and impartial in his approach to the law.” (“The Case For The Nomination Of David Stras To The Federal Courts,” Star Tribune, 6/2/2017)

Building On The Senate’s 2017 Record Of Accomplishment

SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “President Trump had more new circuit court judges confirmed in his first year than any prior president, a testimony to the fine quality of the nominees he sends here to the Senate.” (Sen. McConnell, Floor Remarks, 1/30/2018)

Justice Neil ‘Gorsuch’s Confirmation … A Marquee Accomplishment For President Trump’

“The U.S. Senate confirmed Neil M. Gorsuch to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court… Gorsuch’s confirmation is a marquee accomplishment for President Trump and his young administration…” (“Senate Confirms Neil Gorsuch To Supreme Court,” Washington Post, 4/7/2017)

In 2017 The Senate Confirmed An Historic 12 Circuit Court Judges – The Most In A President’s 1st Year In Office Since The Creation Of Circuit Courts In 1891

“Judicial appointments are the sleeper story that matters...” (“Judicial Appointments Are The Sleeper Story That Matters,” Axios, 11/19/2017)

WASHINGTON EXAMINER: “President Trump broke the record this week for the most federal appeals court judges confirmed during a president’s first year in office, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has signaled it's likely the pace of confirmations will continue at a brisk pace in the new year. The Senate approved three of the president’s federal judicial nominees this week alone: Don Willett of Texas to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Leonard Steven Grasz of Nebraska to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, and James C. Ho of Texas to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. With Ho’s confirmation Thursday, the president surpassed former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon with the highest number of federal appeals court judges confirmed. Both Kennedy and Nixon saw 11 judges approved by the full Senate. Trump now has 12, the highest number since the circuit courts were created in 1891. During his first year in office, former President Barack Obama had three circuit court judges approved, and former President George W. Bush had six.” (“GOP Keeps The Pedal To The Metal On Judicial Confirmations,” Washington Examiner, 12/18/2017)

WALL STREET JOURNAL: “Mr. Trump has nominated first-rate judges…” (Editorial, “Running The Schumer Blockade,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/10/2017)

PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Thanks to @SenateMajLdr McConnell and the @SenateGOP we are appointing high-quality Federal District ...and Appeals Court Judges at a record clip! Our courts are rapidly changing for the better!” (@realDonaldTrump, Twitter, 11/1/2017)

  • PRESIDENT TRUMP: “…something that people aren't talking about is how many judges we've had approved, whether it be the Court of Appeals, circuit judges, whether it be district judges. We have [a] tremendous [number], right now, under review. … I think it's one of the big unsung things of this administration… Many, many are in the pipeline. The level of quality is extraordinary.” (President Trump, Press Conference, 10/16/2017)

The Twelve

  1. Amul R. Thapar of Kentucky confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 44 to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit
  2. John Kenneth Bush of Kentucky confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 47 to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit
  3. Kevin Christopher Newsom of Alabama confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 66 - 31 to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit
  4. Ralph R. Erickson of North Dakota confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 95 - 1 to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit
  5. Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 55 - 43 to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit,
  6. Joan Louise Larsen of Michigan Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 60 - 38 to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit
  7. Allison H. Eid of Colorado confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote 56 - 41 to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit
  8. Stephanos Bibas of Pennsylvania confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 53 - 43 to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit
  9. Gregory G. Katsas of Virginia confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50-48 to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit
  10. Leonard Steven Grasz of Nebraska confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote 50-48 to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit
  11. Don R. Willett of Texas confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote 50-47 to be a Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit
  12. James C. Ho of Texas confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote 53-43 to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

Related Issues: Nominations, Judicial Nominations, Supreme Court