Dick Durbin: “I rise to speak in support of the nomination of Ronnie White to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern…”

“I rise to speak in support of the nomination of Ronnie White to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. I was proud to chair Justice White's nomination hearing before the Judiciary Committee in May. Justice White has the experience, the integrity, and the qualifications to be an outstanding district court judge. He came from humble beginnings. He was born in St. Louis to teenage parents and grew up poor in a segregated neighborhood. He has worked since age 11 to help make ends meet and to put himself through college at St. Louis University and law school at the University of Missouri- Kansas City. Justice White went on to accomplish great things in his legal career--most notably, becoming the first African-American Supreme Court Justice and Chief Justice in Missouri's history. It was a powerful moment when Justice White was sworn in to the Missouri Supreme Court. The ceremony took place at a courthouse where slaves were once sold on the steps. I am pleased that the Senate is voting today on Justice White's nomination to the Federal bench. It is not often that the Senate gets the chance to correct a historic mistake, But by confirming Ronnie White to the Federal bench, we will be able to do so. Justice White's previous nomination to the district court was defeated on the Senate floor in 1999 on a partyline vote.…”