Chuck Hagel: “I strongly recommend Bill Riley to the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. I know that he will be an excellent…”

“I strongly recommend Bill Riley to the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. I know that he will be an excellent appellate judge and will serve with distinction. He will bring to the bench the knowledge, experience and temperament he has acquired throughout his distinguished career. I would like to thank the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Leahy, and ranking member Hatch for the expeditious manner in which they handled Mr. Riley's nomination. Bill Riley received his undergraduate degree from the university of Nebraska in 1969 and graduated with distinction in 1972 from the university of nebraska College of Law. Bill began his career by clerking for the Honorable Donald P. Lay on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. That's right, the Eighth Circuit. Who would have known that almost 30 years later Bill would be nominated to the same court? Since 1973 Bill has practiced law with the firm of Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan of Omaha, where he is now chair of the firm's litigation department. Bill has had a varied trial practice including business litigation, Federal securities law, U.S. copyright, trademark and patent suits, ERISA claims, corporate environmental pollution claims and various contract disputes. Bill is board certified in civil trial practice by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1994, and an associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates.”