Mike Levin: “I am pleased the long road to confirmation for three nominations for the Federal bench in the Western District of…”

“I am pleased the long road to confirmation for three nominations for the Federal bench in the Western District of Michigan, Janet Neff, Robert Jonker, and Paul Maloney is apparently near the end of the road. Senator Stabenow and I worked with the White House on these nominations. Last year they were unanimously reported out of the Judiciary Committee and again this year. The confirmation of these nominees has been blocked since last November. The sticking point of the Senator who objected was that one of the nominees, Judge Neff, personally attended a same-sex commitment ceremony of a family friend who was a next-door neighbor of hers for 26 years. When Judge Neff was asked to deliver some remarks, Judge Neff felt it was similar to being asked by one of her own daughters to be part of an important event in her life. The ceremony was entirely private. It took place in Massachusetts, where Judge Neff has no official capacity. The ceremony had no legal effect. Judge Neff took no official role in the ceremony whatsoever. Her qualifications are clear. She currently serves on the Michigan Court of Appeals, where she has served for a significant period of time. Judge Neff graduated with honors from the University of Pittsburgh in 1967, then graduated from Wayne State University Law School in 1970. She has had a distinguished legal career.”