Political Quotes

“Mr. President, first, let me thank Senator Van Hollen for his friendship and the way that we have been recommending potential members to the bench, working together, in regards to the Maryland judiciary. Nicole Berner is an outstanding candidate for the Fourth Circuit, to fill the position vacated by Diana Gribbon Motz. I just really want to underscore some of the points that Senator Van Hollen said. Nicole Berner is an extraordinarily qualified candidate to serve on the Fourth Circuit--her experience, which Senator Van Hollen went over in great detail, her understanding of the importance of the independent judicial branch of government and protecting our rights, and her commitment to the values which are the strength of our Nation. Senator Van Hollen went over her qualifications. I am just going to underscore a few of those points. Ms. Berner serves as general counsel to the Service Employees International Union, SEIU, and she has been in-house counsel since 2006. She served as staff attorney for Planned Parenthood and worked as a litigation associate at a private law firm. She served as a law clerk for a district court judge in California and an appellate court judge in the Ninth Circuit. She has a record of fighting for working families. She has filed numerous--numerous--amicus briefs before the Supreme Court of the United States as well as circuit and district courts that she has been involved with.…”