On the recordMay 10, 2011
it is my honor to be here to support the nomination of Judge Edward Chen to the Northern District of California. I congratulate Judge Chen and I congratulate his family on this momentous day that is long overdue. I wish to thank Senator Feinstein for her hard work and her leadership in support of Judge Chen's nomination. I think the way we do our judge recommendations in California is exemplary. What we do is, we each have a committee that advises us, and they come up with the names of a few people who they think are the top choices. Then, each of us makes that recommendation to the President. Judge Chen was her nominee. Judge Chen has had a distinguished career. He enjoys broad support and respect in California's legal community. When I heard the remarks of my colleague from Iowa, Senator Grassley, it broke my heart because it doesn't sound to me as though he knows Judge Chen. He seems to be criticizing someone else--someone who sets aside the law. That is not Judge Chen. Judge Chen will make an outstanding addition to the Federal bench. Since 2001, Judge Chen has served as a magistrate judge in the Northern District of California, where he has issued over 350 published legal opinions. Before coming to the bench, Judge Chen was a respected civil rights lawyer and part of the trial team that successfully overturned the wartime conviction of Fred Korematsu.…





